Second Edition – Tampere, Finland
Following the successful first edition in Berlin, the conference NEW ENERGY FOR ARENAS returns to Tampere, Finland — a city internationally recognized as the Home of Finnish Ice Hockey.
This international conference invites arena owners and operators, municipalities, federations, engineers, architects, sustainability experts, researchers, and industry leaders to join an important discussion about the future of ice sports facilities.
The main purpose of the conference is to collect and exchange the latest information on new projects, innovative approaches, and technological solutions that ensure the sustainable and cost-effective development of ice sports facilities worldwide. As energy challenges, environmental responsibilities, and operational costs continue to grow, the future of our ice sports depends on smarter, more efficient arena design and day-to-day management.
The Tampere edition is built on strong international cooperation between the IIHF, ISU, Finnish Ice Hockey Association (FIHA), and the City of Tampere — reflecting a shared commitment to sustainable development across ice sports disciplines.
Conference Program & Practical Information
March 16
Arrival of participants
Reception hosted by the Municipality of Tampere at the historic Ice Hockey Hall of Fame
March 17
Conference at Nokia Arena (09:00–18:00)
Followed by an evening hockey game
March 18
Departure
Participants may arrive via Helsinki Airport or Tampere Airport.
Please register here: https://forms.gle/QCqSTCwnT95GPDGu6 For questions regarding the conference, please contact: accreditation@iihf.com
Welcome Messages
Mayor, Mr. Ilmari Nurminen
Tampere is known as the Home of Finnish Ice Hockey which reflects the importance of ice sports to our city. The upcoming year 2027 will be a major ice sports year in Tampere, as we will host both the ISU Figure Skating World Championships and the IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship. Nokia Arena, opened in 2021, offers modern, top-class conditions for ice sports, and as one of the few downtown located arenas in the world, it has significantly reduced traffic related emissions in ice sports. The City of Tampere aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, with sustainability at the heart of everything we do. As Mayor, I am pleased to welcome the conference to Tampere.
Heikki Hietanen – President of FIHA
“As a true hockey country, Finland understands the importance of arenas as places where sport, community, and innovation come together. This conference in Tampere allows us to explore new solutions for energy efficiency and sustainability, while also contributing our own expertise to the international discussion. Cooperation and knowledge-sharing are key to the future of ice sports.”
Luc Tardif – President of IIHF
“The future of ice sports depends on our ability to innovate responsibly, particularly in how we design and operate our arenas. This - second edition of the conference NEW ENERGY FOR ARENAS brings together key stakeholders to exchange ideas on energy savings, sustainability, and smarter facilities. The IIHF strongly believes that collaboration is the driving force behind meaningful and lasting change.”
Jae-Youl Kim – ISU President
“It’s our responsibility to work towards the development of sustainable ice rinks to ensure a brighter, more durable future for skating. Collaboration with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and knowledge-sharing with technical experts is key for us to make a difference together and we are looking forward to the sessions in Tampere to enhance innovative solutions in support of more eco friendly ice rinks.”
Join Us in Tampere
NEW ENERGY FOR ARENAS is more than a conference — it is a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the long-term future of ice sports worldwide.
We warmly welcome you to Tampere.