Sunday, December 14 – Dublin: The FIH Hockey Pro League drew to a close today, bringing an end to an exceptional six days of International hockey on home soil.
History was made by the Ireland Women’s team on the field, who made their competition debut in front of sold-out crowds, ending a seven-year wait to participate in hockey’s most prestigious annual competition. During the week, Ireland also got their first points in the competition, getting a result against England for the first time since 1994.
The 12-match FIH Hockey Pro League stage was pulled together in just 10 short weeks, with the National Hockey Pitch at the Sport Ireland Campus transformed from a training pitch to an Arena, capable of hosting and showcasing six international teams.
Off the pitch, the event gave an estimated 10,000 hockey fans the opportunity to witness the world’s best athletes compete across 6 days, with spectators of all ages and backgrounds travelling the length and breadth of Ireland to catch a glimpse. And fans were brought extra cheer on the event’s final day as hockey superstar Katie Mullan ran out in front of the packed crowd for her 250th cap.
Between the visiting teams and travelling fans, an estimated 1,500 hotel room nights were booked across the six days, supporting the local community as well as the event. In the media, the event also had a significant impact, with domestic television coverage through RTÉ and TG4 showcasing the sport domestically, and numerous other broadcasters showing the sport further afield.