Small Sports Arena

The Small sports arena was built at “Luzhniki” in 1956. Initially, it was an open sport facility with a wooden platform intended for competitions in various sports, concerts, and other entertainment events. Stands with wooden benches for 15.5 thousand spectators were surrounded by a gallery ...

For the 1980 Olympic Games, in accordance with international requirements, the Small sports arena was significantly rebuilt: enlarged, covered with a roof, and surrounded by a glazed gallery. A machine for artificial ice is here, as well as synthetic surfaces on the site of the central hall and in training halls.

Now the Small sports arena is a multifunctional sport facility with a length of 146 m, a width of 100 m and a height of 16 m with a playing field size 80x36 m, intended for competitions of volleyball, basketball, handball, wrestling, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, boxing, table tennis, and also for concert and entertainment events.

The stands can accommodate about 8,500 spectators in the sport and 6,700 in the concert version. The playing field can be transformed into an ice rink of the size 60x31 m. Three years ago, the artificial ice tile was reconstructed, and since then flat and solid ice has been maintained in the arena all year round (except in July and August).

Throughout a year, the Small sports arena hosts the Russian Championships and international Cups in hockey, figure skating, ice shows, as well as concerts and various competitions in oriental martial arts, sport dances, badminton, volleyball and table tennis; figure skaters and hockey players training here. New Year Tree parties for kids are held every year.

The Small sports arena has two multifunctional sport halls (for basketball, volleyball, tennis, and badminton); tennis courts; fields for football and mini football (two with natural grass and one with artificial grass of the latest generation with heating). The area in central hall can be transformed into ice. The changing rooms are equipped with showers, there is also a sauna and a restaurant.