3ICE
3ICE is an independent professional 3-on-3 ice hockey league operating eight regional U.S. franchises coached by Hockey Hall of Famers. Founded in 2018, it generates revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise, and is expanding into international (World Cup) and youth (3ICE Kids) events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 3ICE does
3ICE Enterprises Inc. is a privately held, Delaware-incorporated company founded in 2018 by E.J. Johnston, operating as an independent professional 3-on-3 ice hockey league headquartered in New York with primary operational venue at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. The league fields eight regional franchises — Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Iowa, Minnesota, NY/NJ, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh — competing for the Patrick Cup in a proprietary game format featuring three skaters plus a goalie per side, no power plays, penalty shots in lieu of power plays, no offsides replay, and shootout determinations, designed to deliver continuous overtime-style action. Each team is coached by Hockey Hall of Famers or Stanley Cup champions (Ray Bourque, Grant Fuhr, Larry Murphy, Joe Mullen, Pierre Turgeon, Guy Carbonneau, John LeClair, Ken Daneyko), with Commissioner Craig Patrick (Hockey Hall of Famer) and Deputy Commissioner Ed Johnston providing league oversight.
The league's product portfolio is expanding beyond the flagship men's league into three adjacent verticals in 2026: the inaugural 3ICE World Cup (a country-vs-country tournament at SSE Arena Belfast featuring eight nations), 3ICE Kids (a U13 youth hockey program culminating in a nationally televised championship), and the 3ICE Open (a winner-take-all tournament). Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket sales distributed via 3ice.com, Ticketmaster, and venue platforms; corporate sponsorships led by Red Bull alongside Warrior, Hyperice, Elite Casino, Jostens, and others; merchandise sold through a Shopify storefront; and exempt securities offerings registered with the SEC (approximately $7.47M targeted in 2025, $10M in 2023, and $9.55M via KB Partners in 2021). Distribution leverages multi-channel marketing including the league website, YouTube, email, and partnership activations, with Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment supporting sponsorship sales.
The customer base comprises three segments: hockey fans and spectators (B2C, primary), corporate sponsors (B2B), and youth hockey players and families (3ICE Kids). The league operates as an event-driven entertainment business with no proprietary technology platform; live game production is supported through partnerships with Ross Video and EPIX Hockey, and the league holds no patents or AI/ML capabilities.
3ICE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 3ICE
- Legal name
- 3ICE Enterprises Inc.
- Website
- https://3ice.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- 3ICE is an independent professional 3-on-3 ice hockey league operating eight regional U.S. franchises coached by Hockey Hall of Famers. Founded in 2018, it generates revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise, and is expanding into international (World Cup) and youth (3ICE Kids) events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where 3ICE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
3ICE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Direct ticket sales to fans for regular season games at Xtream Arena and championship events. Games are available for purchase through the 3ICE website schedule page and partnered ticketing platforms including Ticketmaster and venue-specific systems like Xtream Arena's evenue.net.
- Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate sponsorship arrangements with multiple brand partners including Red Bull, Elite Casino, Warrior, Hyperice, and others. Partners receive logo placement, brand association with the league, and marketing activation opportunities at events.
- Merchandise Sales: E-commerce merchandise sales through Shopify storefront (shop3ice.myshopify.com) including team merchandise, apparel, and fan gear.
- Securities Offerings: 3ICE Enterprises Inc. conducted exempt securities offerings registered with the SEC, raising capital through equity and interests in pooled investment funds.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Event-based ticket sales with multiple game packages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise e-commerce |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
3ICE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
3ICE operates a professional 3-on-3 ice hockey league with eight regional franchises competing for the Patrick Cup at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. The league also delivers the inaugural 3ICE World Cup in Belfast (July 2026), a youth 3ICE Kids U13 program, the announced 3ICE Open tournament, and a merchandise line sold via its Shopify storefront.
Product overview
3ICE is a professional 3-on-3 ice hockey league that serves as the core product, featuring eight regional teams competing for the Patrick Cup. The portfolio includes three main product lines: 3ICE Men's (the flagship league), 3ICE World Cup (international country-vs-country competition), and 3ICE Kids (youth U13 program). The league also announced the 3ICE Open winner-take-all tournament. Game format features 3 skaters plus a goalie per team with no powerplays, straight penalty shots, and shootout determinations. The league is led by Hockey Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup champions as coaches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 3ICE Men's: The professional 3-on-3 men's ice hockey league with 8 teams competing for the Patrick Cup
- 3ICE World Cup
- 3ICE Kids
Products and services
- 3ICE Men's League Professional 3-on-3 ice hockey league featuring eight regional teams (3ICE Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Iowa, Minnesota, NY/NJ, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) coached by Hockey Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup champions, competing for the Patrick Cup championship trophy. Format is 3 skaters plus goalie per team, two 8-minute halves with running clock, no powerplays (straight to penalty shots), and shootout resolution.
- 3ICE World Cup International 3-on-3 hockey tournament featuring country-vs-country competition among eight nations (USA, Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria) at SSE Arena Belfast in Northern Ireland. Tickets distributed through Ticketmaster Ireland.
- 3ICE Kids Youth hockey program for U13 players featuring elite competition, a nationwide televised championship, and a 3ICE Kids World Championship event in Iowa City. Includes regional series such as 3ICE St. Louis. Broadcasting supported by EPIX Hockey.
- 3ICE Open Winner-take-all 3-on-3 hockey tournament announced as part of 3ICE's expanded portfolio of 3-on-3 hockey events.
- 3ICE Merchandise Team merchandise, apparel, and fan gear for all 3ICE teams and product lines, sold direct-to-consumer via the league's Shopify e-commerce storefront.
Companies that use 3ICE
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
3ICE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
3ICE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, moderate, core and minor.
- Red BullmajorGlobal energy drink brand and major sponsor of extreme and professional sports. Red Bull logo appears on partner section of 3ICE website, indicating sponsorship and marketing partnership for the league.
- Elite Casino ResortsmoderateCasino resort brand listed as a 3ICE partner, providing sponsorship and marketing activation opportunities at league events.
- Warrior SportsmoderateHockey equipment manufacturer providing equipment sponsorship and brand partnership with the league.
- HypericemoderateRecovery technology brand specializing in percussion and vibration devices for athletes, listed as a 3ICE partner.
- EPIX HockeymoderateHockey-focused television network partner supporting the 3ICE Kids Championship with broadcasting and media coverage.
- Iowa HeartlanderscoreECHL hockey team whose home venue (Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa) serves as the home base for 3ICE's 2026 season. Partnership includes venue sharing and regional hockey community collaboration.
- Athletes ClosetminorHockey-focused apparel and equipment retailer partner listed on 3ICE website.
- Hockey NinjaminorHockey equipment and lifestyle brand partner for 3ICE.
- SportcontractmoderateSports marketing and contract management partner facilitating sponsorship arrangements.
- Jet IceminorIce rink maintenance and equipment partner supporting league operations.
- Heart WaterminorHydration brand partner for 3ICE.
- JostensmoderateAwards and recognition products provider, relevant for championship trophies like the Patrick Cup.
- TicketmastercorePrimary ticketing platform for 3ICE World Cup events, including the Belfast tournament in July 2026.
- Ross VideomoderateVideo production technology provider supporting live event production and broadcast capabilities.
- Van Wagner Sports & EntertainmentmoderateSports and entertainment marketing agency partner for sponsorship sales and activation.
- Sportscorp TravelminorSports travel agency partner for team and event logistics.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
3ICE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Big3 Basketball: Ice Cube's 3-on-3 professional basketball league featuring retired NBA legends in a fast-paced, made-for-TV format. Most directly comparable to 3ICE on format (3-on-3), talent profile (retired superstars), and event-driven revenue model.
- Premier Lacrosse League: Professional outdoor lacrosse league launched in 2019 with a tour-based model and star player equity. Comparable to 3ICE as a newer alternative professional sports league built around a fan-friendly format and corporate-backed launch.
- National Lacrosse League: Indoor professional box lacrosse league with city-based franchises. Comparable to 3ICE as a niche indoor professional sports league competing for sponsorship and live-event dollars against the major US leagues.
- Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL): North American professional women's hockey league with city-based franchises and Olympic/former-NWHL talent. Comparable to 3ICE as a professional ice hockey league pursuing league economics in a hockey-native but non-NHL market.
Emerging players
- Athletes Unlimited: Innovative sports league structure that rotates teams and awards individual player points across lacrosse, softball, volleyball, and basketball. Comparable to 3ICE in its willingness to break traditional league conventions for fan and player value.
Broad incumbents
- Major League Rugby: Professional rugby union league with city-based franchises across North America. Comparable to 3ICE as an alternative professional sports league pursuing mainstream relevance and sponsorship in the US sports ecosystem.
- United Football League (UFL/XFL/USFL): Spring professional football league formed from merger of XFL and USFL. Comparable to 3ICE as a non-NFL professional football property competing for spring sports attention and sponsorship dollars.
- Major League Cricket: T20 franchise cricket league in the United States backed by IPL-style investors. Comparable to 3ICE as an emerging professional league importing an international sports format into the North American market.
Others
- Overwatch League / Call of Duty League (Activision Blizzard Esports): City-based professional esports leagues with similar league structures (franchised teams, sponsorships, broadcast deals). Comparable to 3ICE structurally — city-based franchised league model — though esports-native rather than physical-sports-native.
- National Women's Soccer League (NWSL): Top-division US professional women's soccer league with city-based franchises. Comparable to 3ICE as a US-based alternative professional sports league that has scaled sponsorship, media rights, and franchise value after a slow ramp.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
3ICE social profiles
Digital presence3ICE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
3ICE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
3ICE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
3ICE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 3ICE
What does 3ICE do?
3ICE operates a professional 3-on-3 ice hockey league with eight regional franchises competing for the Patrick Cup at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. The league also delivers the inaugural 3ICE World Cup in Belfast (July 2026), a youth 3ICE Kids U13 program, the announced 3ICE Open tournament, and a merchandise line sold via its Shopify storefront.
Is 3ICE a public or private company?
3ICE is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was 3ICE founded?
3ICE was founded in 2018. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is 3ICE based?
3ICE is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does 3ICE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are sponsorships and Partnerships, merchandise Sales and securities Offerings.
Who are 3ICE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Big3 Basketball, Premier Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League and Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Athletes Unlimited is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Major League Rugby, United Football League (UFL/XFL/USFL) and Major League Cricket. Others are Overwatch League / Call of Duty League (Activision Blizzard Esports) and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Does 3ICE have an API?
No public API is recorded for 3ICE.