Honeywell and NHL Forge a New Era of Intelligent Hockey Venues

Building Automation Meets Professional Sports

Honeywell has entered a multi‑year partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) to modernize arenas, practice facilities, and community rinks. This collaboration positions Honeywell as the Official Building Automation and Energy Management Partner of the NHL. The initiative highlights how industrial automation, PLC, DCS, and control systems can transform sports infrastructure into resilient, energy‑efficient environments.

Enhancing Fan Experience Through Automation

Modern hockey venues demand seamless operations. Honeywell’s AI‑enabled building automation integrates fire safety, security, frictionless access, and energy management. As a result, fans, players, and staff benefit from safer, smarter, and more reliable facilities. In my view, this reflects a broader industry trend: factory automation is no longer limited to manufacturing but is now shaping entertainment and sports.

Energy Efficiency and Operational Reliability

Honeywell’s technologies, including the Honeywell Forge platform, enable real‑time monitoring and predictive maintenance. Therefore, operators can reduce downtime, protect critical systems, and optimize energy use. This approach aligns with industrial best practices where DCS and PLC systems safeguard uptime in mission‑critical environments such as power plants and refineries.

Community Rinks and Accessibility

The partnership extends beyond professional arenas. Honeywell will support community rinks, helping them operate more efficiently and securely. Moreover, this initiative makes hockey more accessible at the local level, echoing how industrial control systems scale from large factories to smaller municipal facilities.

Industry Commentary and Technical Insight

From my 15 years of experience, I see this as a strong example of cross‑sector innovation. Sports venues are becoming complex digital ecosystems. Integrating industrial automation and energy management ensures not only operational stability but also long‑term sustainability. In addition, the NHL gains a blueprint for future investments, while Honeywell demonstrates how automation expertise can extend into new industries.

Future Outlook: The “Rink of the Future”

Honeywell and the NHL envision facilities that are more connected, secure, and resilient. Advanced automation and data‑driven insights will enable smarter energy use, better fan engagement, and reduced operating costs. Therefore, the concept of a “Rink of the Future” mirrors the evolution of smart factories, where digitalization and automation redefine performance standards.

Application Scenarios and Solution Use Cases

• Arena Operations: Use PLC and DCS systems to manage HVAC, lighting, and energy loads.

• Security Integration: Apply industrial automation to unify fire, life safety, and access control.

• Community Rinks: Deploy scalable control systems for cost‑effective energy management.

• Digital Fan Engagement: Protect IT infrastructure supporting ticketing, streaming, and mobile apps.

• Sustainability Projects: Monitor emissions and optimize energy consumption with predictive analytics.