A large-scale program for the development of sports infrastructure has been approved in the Republic of Tatarstan

The Republic of Tatarstan has approved a large-scale sports infrastructure development program, which includes the construction of 12 new indoor ice facilities by 2030. The project was announced by Tatarstan Prime Minister Alexey Pesoshin during the opening ceremony of the ice palace in the village of Karelino, Baltasinsky District, which was built at the expense of the republican budget. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who attended the event, noted that the region is demonstrating steady progress not only in the economy and social sphere, but also in the development of hockey and football. The program aims to provide each municipal district with modern ice facilities, creating a long-term foundation for the growth of professional and mass sports.

This initiative directly stimulates the market for industrial refrigeration equipment. Each new ice arena is a complex engineering facility where the cooling system is a key element that ensures the quality of the ice and the safety of the athletes. The construction of twelve facilities in a short period of time creates a steady demand for specialized equipment, its installation, and subsequent service support. This presents opportunities for companies operating in this segment to plan their supply chains in a long-term manner, enter into service contracts, and develop standard solutions tailored to specific climatic conditions and load requirements.

• The key technological component of any indoor arena is the refrigeration station, which is responsible for maintaining the ice temperature between -5 and -7 degrees Celsius. In such projects, screw compressor units powered by ammonia or freon are used as standard. Ammonia units are preferred for large facilities due to their high energy efficiency, with a coefficient of performance that can reach 5.0-6.0, which reduces operating costs. Freon systems, in turn, are easier to automate and require less maintenance, which is relevant for remote municipalities. The capacity of a typical station for an arena with one ice area ranges from 400 to 600 kW of cold.
• The second most important element of the system is the ice field, which is a concrete slab 150-200 mm thick, reinforced with coil pipes. The pipes are made of high-density polyethylene or stainless steel. The pipes are laid at a spacing of 75 to 100 mm, which ensures a uniform temperature distribution across the entire surface. A coolant solution, such as ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, is circulated through the pipes, removing heat from the ice and transferring it to the refrigeration station. The area of a typical hockey field is about 1,800 square meters, and the temperature accuracy on the entire surface should be within ±0.5 degrees.
• Air dehumidification and ventilation systems deserve special attention. In indoor arenas, high humidity leads to fog formation over the ice and premature deterioration of the ice surface. To combat this, supply and exhaust systems with rotary or sorption dehumidifiers are used, which can reduce the relative humidity to 35-45 percent. The capacity of these systems is calculated based on the number of spectators, with up to 30-40 thousand cubic meters of fresh air per hour being supplied and pre-dehumidified and cooled for every five thousand people.
• Secondary cooling systems also play an important role, such as chillers for cooling concrete during the pouring stage and maintaining the temperature in the under-floor space in winter, as well as frequency-controlled pumping stations that ensure precise flow of refrigerant. Modern arenas also feature automated control systems (SCADA) that monitor temperature at dozens of points, pressure in circuits, and regulate the operation of compressors in real-time. This allows for up to 20% energy savings compared to manual control.
• For municipal projects, such as the one in the village of Karelino, high-availability container refrigeration stations are preferred. These stations are delivered in insulated block modules with pre-installed compressors, automation, and hydraulic connections. This reduces the installation time to two to three weeks and minimizes assembly errors. These stations typically have two or three parallel-running compressors, which provides redundancy. If one compressor fails, the arena continues to operate at a reduced capacity.

Industrial refrigeration equipment used in the construction of ice arenas has the following confirmed characteristics: refrigerant boiling point from minus 15 to minus 20 degrees, an inter-repair resource of at least 40 thousand hours of operation, a noise level of no more than 80-85 decibels at a distance of one meter. All components must comply with European and Russian safety standards, especially when working with ammonia, which requires the installation of gas analyzers and emergency ventilation. For supplier companies, such projects are not just a one-time deal, but an opportunity to gain a foothold in the market with the prospect of providing services throughout the entire life cycle of the facility, which can last from fifteen to twenty-five years.

Thus, the program of construction of twelve ice arenas until 2030 forms a sustainable driver for manufacturers and integrators of refrigeration equipment. It requires the supply of reliable, energy-efficient and maintainable equipment for compressor stations, ice fields, drainage and automation systems. Companies capable of offering comprehensive solutions with adaptation to regional conditions and service requirements receive a guaranteed order book for the next five to seven years, and Tatarstan receives a modern sports infrastructure available in every municipal district.