Manchester Storm had to cancel their Challenge Cup match against the Nottingham Panthers due to a technical problem with the ice at the AO Arena. The game was originally scheduled to start at 4:00 PM BST on Sunday but was suspended just minutes before a new start time of 7:30 PM was announced. The club posted on social media that the match had been paused because of the issue and apologized to fans and ticket holders for the inconvenience. Supporters were told to keep their tickets, as they will be valid for the rescheduled game on October 14. The AO Arena, which had hosted a concert by Hilary Duff the previous night, had not held an ice hockey match in 24 years before this event. Manchester Storm had previously played at the venue in a sold-out pre-season friendly against the Sheffield Steelers on September 6. The team had left the Manchester Arena in 2002 but returned to the AO Arena to take advantage of growing interest in ice hockey and the venue's larger capacity. Founded in 1995, Manchester Storm played in the newly opened Manchester Arena as a tenant and became the inaugural champions of the Ice Hockey Superleague in 1996. The team's return to the AO Arena reflects both the sport’s increasing popularity and the need for larger venues to accommodate growing fan bases. This match was a significant event for the club, marking a return to a major arena after many years.