Following the statement released by Planet Ice tonight, the Basingstoke Bison are pushing forward with preparations and looking ahead with excitement — despite a small change to our pre-season schedule.
 
Our opening pre-season fixture against the Swindon Wildcats on Friday 5th September will now take place at the Link Centre in Swindon, face-off 7:30pm, with the Bison proudly taking the role of home team.
 
In addition, our scheduled home fixture against the Bristol Pitbulls will now be played at Planet Ice Bristol on Sunday 14th September. The first official home game for the Bison will now be our NIHL National League opener on Saturday 20th September against the Romford Raiders.
 
We are working closely with Planet Ice to ensure a smooth transition back to our home rink once the refurbishment is complete, and we look forward to welcoming fans back to Basingstoke very soon.
 
For supporters who had already purchased tickets for the 2 pre-season games against Basingstoke and Bristol, you’ll be able to claim a full refund for both fixtures. Full details will be shared by the end of the week.
 
Preparations on and off the ice are in full swing, with our import players arriving over the next week to join the rest of the squad. Training will ramp up as the team prepares for the season ahead.
 
Why don’t you join us at our 2025/26 Season Launch Event — the perfect chance for fans to meet the new-look Herd as we return to action for the first time in over two years. The event takes place from 14:00–16:00 on Saturday 30th August at the Spruce Goose Beefeater, and promises to be a fantastic day for supporters as the countdown to the season gets underway.
 
We’ll continue to keep fans updated, with the next ticketing update set for Friday 15th August. In the meantime, the message from the Bison camp is clear — the wait is almost over, and we can’t wait to see the Herd back in action.