Arena Omsk, an ice hockey facility in the Russian city, is set for demolition just 12 years after it opened, due to safety concerns.
The Moscow Times newspaper reported that the 10,300-seat facility, which serves as the home of Kontinental Hockey League team Avangard Omsk, will be replaced by a new, modern arena.
The arena opened in 2007 and was funded by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of English Premier League football club Chelsea. Abramovich donated the $150m (£114m/€133m) facility to Avangard Omsk in 2012 and the team has operated the arena since then.
The Moscow Times reports that the decision to demolish the arena comes after an evaluation of its structure last year found that it was in “emergency condition”. Inspectors reportedly found structural defects in 90 per cent of the areas they surveyed.
Avangard Omsk chairman Alexander Krylov said: “It’s clear that what’s here now will be demolished. A modern arena will be built on this site.”
The team has been forced to play matches in Moscow since the problems with Arena Omsk came to light last summer.
Image: Крылов Иван
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