Steppe Arena

Steppe Arena
Степпе Арена
Мөсөн Өргөө
Former names	Талын дэвжээ
Location	Ulaanbataar, Mongolia
Owner	Steppe Arena LLC
Executive suites	5
Capacity	3,600
Surface	Artificial ice
Construction
Broke ground	April 14, 2019
Built	2021
Opened	September 29, 2021
Construction cost	US$15 million
Architect	Anagram LLC
Project manager	Steppe Arena LLC
Website
	https://steppearena.mn/en/

The Steppe Arena (Mongolian: Степпе Арена), is an indoor ice hockey arena in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia. The project was implemented with the main investment of Achit Ikht LLC and contributions of top national companies - MAK LLC, United Project Corporation LLC, and Steppe Link Holding. And Steppe Arena LLC is responsible for constructing the facility.

The project fulfills the dreams of Mongolian youths of many generations to host various international games such as indoor ice hockey, figure skating, and short track speed racing while a special platform that covers the rink allows hosting basketball, volleyball, boxing, gymnastics, wrestling, and dancing competitions. The ice rink is built per proposed standards from the International Olympic Committee which provides the opportunity to host both international and continental games.

Construction[]

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Steppe Arena was held on April 14, 2019 with Puntsagiin Tsagaan, founder and chairman of the Board of Steppe Arena LLC, and Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga leading the ceremony. Construction is projected to be finished within 16 months and the facility is expected to open in 2021.^[2]

Architecture and design[]

In 2018, Steppe Arena LLC, a Mongolian company engaged in sports and cultural events, launched a project to build indoor ice hockey rink in country as their first project.^[3] They have tasked local firm Anagram LLC to work on the architectural plan of the indoor arena^[4] and they were aided by the Embassy of Canada in Mongolia who provided connections with architects who are experienced in building similar large-scale sports facility. Steppe Arena LLC has signed a cooperation memorandums with Canadian firms DA Architecture Limited and HDR | CEI Architecture Associates to help them work on the project allowing the design team to study ice rinks of varying scale in Canada.^[3] One of the factors considered in designing the arena is Mongolia's extreme climate, which can get as cold as −40 °C (−40 °F) in the winter and as hot as 40 °C (104 °F) in the summer.^[3]

The Steppe Arena will measure 105 metres (344 ft) long and 85 metres (279 ft) wide and will have a seating capacity to accommodate 3,600 people.^[3] The Mongolian architects who worked on the building preferred a modern design for the arena and did not want to draw inspiration from historical references such as the country's yurts.^[5]

Use[]

As Mongolia's first multi-purpose indoor ice arena, the Steppe Arena, is primarily intended for winter sports such as ice hockey, figure skating, curling, and short track speed skating. Special elastic cover could be used to overlay the ice rink so it can be used for other indoor sports such as basketball, boxing, gymnastics, taekwondo, volleyball, and wrestling tournaments as well as for concerts and cultural events.^[3] It is also expected to be the future home venue of the Mongolian national ice hockey teams.^[5]