The RDIF, PSB, the Red Machine group of companies and the Moscow Government signed an agreement concerning an arena at Hockey City Skolkovo

At the XXVIII Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, a four-party cooperation agreement was signed within the framework of the project to construct and operate a multifunctional complex on the territory of the Skolkovo Innovation Centre.

The document was signed by PSB Chairman Pyotr Fradkov, Moscow Government Minister, Head of the Moscow Department of Investment and Industrial Policy Anatoly Garbuzov, RDIF General Director Kirill Dmitriev and First Vice President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, founder of the Red Machine Junior school and the Skolkovo Hockey City project Roman Rotenberg. The total investment in the project will amount to roughly 3.5 billion rubles.

The sports and education cluster will unite venues covering more than 15 sports. Its territory will house a children's ice hockey school, a figure skating school, a trampoline centre, halls for martial arts, curling, team sports, padel and squash, and a gym. At the same time, young athletes will be able to study at the SKOLKA innovative school, where the schedule of classes will be adjusted in accordance with the sports which the children are involved with.

Pyotr Fradkov, Chairman of PSB:

"PSB supports strategic initiatives aimed at popularising mass, youth and inclusive sports in Russia, increasing the availability, equipment and number of sporting facilities. We’ve already opened 24 street basketball centres including five in new constituent entities of the Russian Federation, financed the construction of a year-round swimming pool in Makeyevka, the Donetsk People's Republic, and are building up effective cooperation with regional authorities to develop sporting infrastructure throughout the country. And, of course, we are happy to take part in the project to construct a new multifunctional complex in Moscow - this is a socially significant initiative which will provide an additional incentive for the development of youth and mass sport in the region."

Anatoly Garbuzov, Head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy of the City of Moscow:

"Public-private partnership is one of the most effective mechanisms for the development of social and economically important infrastructure. As a part of the concession agreement, a multifunctional sports complex with an area of ​​19 thousand square metres will be constructed at the Skolkovo Innovation Centre. The total investment in this project will amount to around 3.5 billion rubles, with about 1.4 billion invested by the Moscow Government. Roughly 10% of the total operating time of the sports complex will be allocated for discounted visits to the ice rinks for residents of the capital."

Roman Rotenberg, First Vice President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, founder of the Red Machine Junior school and the Skolkovo Hockey City project:

“We deliberately chose the Skolkovo territory as the base for the arena. Our complex should be a technological project which takes into account modern trends in physical and virtual sports, in turn becoming a model example for sporting facilities for many years to come. Children will not only be able to participate in sport, but also to study at the innovative SKOLKA school, where the schedule of classes will be combined with sport. This will be our first “Sport + Education” project, with both areas working together and consequently assisting the kids to become harmoniously developed individuals. The Red Machine Group of Companies, together with the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, are constantly working on the development of youth sport in our country. We still have many projects ahead in this matter.”

Kirill Dmitriev, General Director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF): 

"Public-private partnerships cover not only traditional sectors, including infrastructure, transport, industry, but also healthcare and sport. A striking example is the project to construct a multifunctional sports complex, which is being implemented in partnership with the city of Moscow and leading investors. RDIF actively invests in projects to support a healthy lifestyle, improve the quality of life and promote sport, and we expect that the complex will be well used by Muscovites."