An ice arena seems like a venue for one sport, but hockey fills only part of a big arena’s calendar. On other days it hosts ice shows, concerts, festivals and corporate events, and in the mornings and evenings the ice is rented by the hour. Here is what events ice arenas host and how rental works.
What events take place at an ice arena
- Hockey. KHL, VHL, MHL matches, youth and amateur tournaments. For a club arena this is the core of the calendar
- Figure skating. Competitions and exhibitions
- Ice shows. Productions with skaters, a storyline and sets. Most common over the New Year holidays
- Concerts. The ice is covered with panels, a stage and floor seating are set up. Big arenas regularly host touring acts
- Public skating. Open sessions, discos on ice
- Corporate and children’s parties. Ice rental for a couple of hours, a hockey match between departments, skating with entertainers
What makes up the rental price
There are no common rates for all arenas: prices depend heavily on the city, arena size and time slot. Guidelines:
- An hour of ice for practice or an amateur game. The most common format. Early and late hours are cheaper, weekday evenings and weekends cost more. In Moscow and St Petersburg prime time is several times more expensive than in the regions
- Renting the arena for an event. Charged for the load-in day, the event day and load-out. For a concert, covering the ice is added
- Equipment. Sound, light, screens. Some is in the arena, the rest is rented from contractors
- Staff. Security, ticket checkers, cleaning, medics, the ice resurfacer operator
For a corporate or children’s party it is easiest to ask the arena for a package: an hour or two of ice, changing rooms, skate hire, sometimes a café.
How much an ice show costs
For a viewer, the price of an ice show is a ticket, depending on the production and the seat. For an organiser, an ice show is one of the most expensive arena events: skaters, sets, costumes, lighting and a long load-in. That is why ice shows usually run in series over several days.
How to engage the stands
At an ice arena spectators sit far from the action, and during hockey intermissions they have 17 free minutes. We run shows where the stands themselves become part of the picture. Spectators scan a QR code on the arena screen, and phone flashlights flash to the music, run in waves across sections, light up in team colours.
At Tatiana Navka’s ice show The Nutcracker, spectators turned their glowing phone screens towards the ice in the finale. The lesson: the arena is lit even during numbers, and in that light flashlights show up better than screens. Details in the case study.
Commands travel via ultrasound through the arena sound, no mobile internet is needed. The price depends on the number of spectators: for example, a 5,000-seat arena costs 120,000 ₽. After the show a sponsor promo can open in spectators’ browsers. More on the hockey show page.
FAQ
Is the tenant the one who rents out or the one who rents? The tenant rents, that is, pays for the ice or arena. The landlord rents it out, here the arena.
Can you hold a corporate event with a programme at an arena? Yes. A hockey game or skating is often followed by a banquet in the VIP area or arena restaurant. A light show can go on the ice or at the banquet.
For hockey clubs: what shows clubs stage for the KHL season opening and who sponsors KHL and RPL clubs.