A national sporting body has quickly thrown its support behind the proposed Newcastle Arena.
The Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), which features local franchise the Newcastle Northstars, released a statement over the weekend.
It comes in the wake of the long-awaited project receiving $14 million for planning works in last week's state budget.
The 12,000-seat indoor entertainment centre, officially unveiled on Friday, would be located in Broadmeadow next to McDonald Jones Stadium.
Whether or not the Northstars would consider relocating games, regular or one-off, away from their Hunter Ice Skating Stadium headquarters in Warners Bay remains to be seen.
However, the possibility of using new venue Newcastle Arena for AIHL finals and ice hockey World Championships could also be explored in the future.
"We welcome the NSW Government's plan to build a new facility in Newcastle," AIHL media manager Stephen White said.
"There's a long way to go, but from a league perspective we're all for the possibility to also accommodate the Newcastle Northstars and the AIHL in the future.
"It's ultimately a decision for the Northstars to make and there's many complexities that need to be addressed, but we would strongly encourage them to explore this opportunity and to be involved in the process.
"Newcastle is a similar market to Canberra in the sense of our league, and I'm convinced with the right structure that the most successful sporting team in the Newcastle region and in the AIHL can replicate the Canberra Brave's achievements at AIS Arena."
Tickets to this year's AIHL finals series sold out in less than 15 minutes last week while the Northstars commonly fill the stands for home games each winter.
Canberra Brave made a move into AIS Arena last year, which accommodates a few thousand fans, and its understood they have since enjoyed strong attendance numbers.
White reckons the technology required at Newcastle Arena to switch between playing surfaces, including an ice hockey rink, were "industry standard overseas".
"The main requirements for it to work for hockey are enough floorspace and suitable plant facilities and changerooms," White said.
"The technology required to change over between an ice rink, basketball, netball, MMA, concerts and other events is decades old and industry standard overseas, and it's completely doable with the right plans in place."
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said on Friday that: "I don't think we'll be seeking out people to come here, they will be knocking down our door."
Boxing champion Nikita Tszyu, who, along with his brother Tim and father Kostya have fought at the existing Newcastle Entertainment Centre on multiple occasions, welcomed the new facility.
Super Netball and NBL may also be on the venue's sporting cards, along with various music arts.
No completion date for Newcastle Arena has yet been put forward.
The ladder-leading Northstars went down 4-3 to the Mustangs in Melbourne on Saturday despite a Wehebe Darge double putting the AIHL visitors ahead by three early in the second period.
