In a bold move to cement ice hockey's future in the national capital, Canberra Brave owner Stephen Campbell has personally invested close to $1 million to upgrade the team's home at the AIS Arena. Campbell's hefty financial gamble is driven by a decade-long vision to see the Brave become as synonymous with Canberra as the Raiders.
A Million-Dollar Bet on Ice Hockey's Future
Campbell's investment of more than $900,000 has secured new professional-grade equipment for the Brave, including state-of-the-art ice hockey boards, plexi-glass for the rink, and a brand-new ice resurfacer, known as a Zamboni. The Zamboni alone represents a $500,000 outlay.
With limited suppliers in Australia, Campbell travelled to Canada in November 2025 to negotiate directly with manufacturers, funding the purchases through a loan. This marks a significant upgrade from the previous season, where the team relied on hired equipment, including an ageing Zamboni held together with tape.
"You need to take risks in order to improve the sport," Campbell told The Canberra Times. He believes these incremental improvements are essential to drive the sport forward and elevate the fan experience at the AIS Arena for the next five to six years.
The AIS Arena Move Pays Dividends
The investment follows a highly successful relocation from the 1000-seat Phillip Ice Rink to the 3000-capacity AIS Arena in 2025. The move resulted in 11 sold-out regular season games and record membership and attendance figures, proving a financial success despite higher venue costs.
"In Phillip we never covered costs. We lost a lot of money there," Campbell admitted, citing it as the most expensive ice hockey venue in the country. The AIS Arena allowed for a true NHL-style experience in a bowl arena, generating greater social media interest and corporate sponsorship.
Buoyed by this success, Campbell has committed the Brave to the AIS Arena for at least the next two Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) seasons and is negotiating an extension. He is also in talks to add 300 more rinkside seats to meet soaring demand.
Convention Centre Dreams and a $10 Million Vision
Looking beyond Bruce, Campbell's audacious long-term plan is to establish a permanent home for the Brave at the proposed new national convention centre in the city centre. He envisions a Madison Square Garden-like multi-purpose venue.
His proposal involves embedding approximately $10 million worth of permanent ice-making infrastructure—refrigeration and pipework—into the building's slab. Insulated decking tiles could then allow a rapid six-hour transformation between ice hockey and other events.
"Because of the relatively minor cost compared to the total cost of construction, it makes perfect sense for us to move into the convention centre," Campbell argued. He has held multiple meetings with project stakeholders and the ACT government.
Campbell backs his business case with an estimated $2.5 million in tourism value generated for the ACT from the 2025 season. He contends that a larger 8000-seat venue could boost that figure to between $5 and $7 million, providing significant incentive for government support.
The owner's confidence is sky-high after a heartbreaking finals loss to the Melbourne Ice in 2025. With data showing unprecedented social media engagement and ticket sales, and the entire 2026 season now based at the AIS Arena, Campbell predicts even greater membership sales and a serious push for the team's first Goodall Cup. His million-dollar risk is a clear statement that ice hockey in Canberra is here to stay and aiming for the big league.
