Stockholm city officials presented plans for a new hockey arena on June 3. The facility would seat at least 10,000 spectators and could begin construction in 2029 or 2030 if approved by the city council. Players from Djurgården shared their thoughts on the proposal.
The announcement took place during a press conference at the existing Hovet arena. Representatives from both Djurgården and AIK attended the event. Henrik Eriksson welcomed the idea. “Häftigt!” he said, adding that the project would be good for Stockholm hockey overall. Jesper Pettersson noted the historic value of Hovet while stressing the need for improved training facilities. He said the current setup makes it difficult for multiple teams to share ice time and that a new venue has been discussed for 20 to 30 years. Hugo Blixt and David Blomgren expressed cautious optimism. Both players said the plans sound promising but emphasized that past promises have taken time to materialize and that costs remain a key factor.