Central Asia: A New Market for Ice Sports and Arena Construction
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan. Just a few years ago, few would have associated these Central and South Asian countries with the dynamic development of ice sports. Today, they are among the fastest-growing markets for ice facility construction in the world – and ICE Professional is right there in the middle of it.
Kazakhstan: A Hockey Power That Made Its Return
Kazakhstan has the longest ice hockey tradition of any Central Asian country. The country has a professional hockey league, the Barys Astana club played for many years in the Kontinental Hockey League, and the Kazakh national team is a respected competitor on the international stage.
In May 2026, the Kazakh national team won the Division I Group A tournament at the IIHF World Championship in Sosnowiec, Poland, earning an immediate return to the elite division of the World Championship. Under new head coach Talgat Zhailauov, Kazakhstan defeated Lithuania 4:1, Japan 6:0 and Poland 3:2, dominating the entire tournament.
This sporting success reflects a broader trend: Kazakhstan is systematically investing in hockey infrastructure. ICE Professional monitors the Kazakh market as one of its key markets.
Uzbekistan: From Zero to the International Stage in Five Years
Uzbekistan only became an IIHF member in 2019. In just seven years, Uzbek hockey has reached the international stage – both the men’s and women’s national teams regularly compete in international tournaments, and Humo Tashkent was among the most ambitious clubs on the Central Asian hockey scene.
The key driver was infrastructure development. Hockey Planet Arena in Tashkent – a project ICE Professional contributed to – and Samarkand Family Park Arena brought modern ice surfaces meeting international standards to the country. Without arenas, there is no hockey. Uzbekistan understood this and acted.
Uzbekistan became an IIHF member in 2019. Seven years later, Uzbek teams compete in IIHF international tournaments. This is the fastest development of a hockey environment we have ever seen.
Kyrgyzstan: Hockey Growing From the Ground Up
Kyrgyzstan is the youngest hockey country in Central Asia – but it is growing all the faster for it. In January 2026, Bishkek hosted the IIHF U20 World Championship Division 3B, where the Kyrgyz team shone and took first place. Young Kyrgyz players such as Alikhan Ali-Askarov (10 goals + 10 assists) and Umar Egemberdiev showed the world that hockey talent is growing in Bishkek too.
The foundation of this development is infrastructure. The outdoor ice rink at Eurasia Park in Bishkek – built by ICE Professional – gave the capital a place where young people can encounter ice. From a park to full stadiums is only a matter of time and investment.
What Is Driving the Growth of the Entire Region?
The growth of ice sports in Central Asia is no accident. Several parallel trends are behind it:
- State support for sport – the governments of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan see sport as a tool of national identity and international prestige. Sports infrastructure receives state priority.
- A growing middle class – the region’s economic development is creating a new layer of citizens with higher purchasing power and an interest in active leisure.
- Soviet hockey tradition – a strong generation of people raised on Soviet hockey still lives in the region. The interest in sport is there; only modern facilities were missing.
- International ambitions – participation in IIHF tournaments, hosting international events and the desire for sporting prestige drive both governments and investors to build arenas.
- Tourism potential – winter attractions, snow parks and ice rinks are part of a broader tourism development strategy.
ICE Professional: A Partner for the Entire Region
ICE Professional is a company with completed projects across Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan – and also in Kazakhstan.
We understand local conditions: the climatic challenges of continental weather, the logistics of delivery to remote locations, local building standards and the business culture of the region. This combination of experience places us in a unique position.
- Hockey Planet Arena, Tashkent – professional hockey arena
- Samarkand Family Park Arena – the only ice arena in Samarkand, in operation since 2021
- Eurasia Park Bishkek – outdoor ice rink under the patronage of the President of Kyrgyzstan
- Heydar Aliyev Complex, Baku – modernisation of a prestigious complex in Azerbaijan
Central Asia is skating. And we are there, where it all began.
Planning an ice arena or winter attraction project in Central Asia or the surrounding regions? Contact us – we are on the ground, we understand the market and we have the references.
