Major renovation: How many years will the Medeu skating rink be closed

Tengrinews.kz - Spring has arrived, and many Kazakhstanis are wondering how long the season at the high-altitude skating rink Medeu will last. Is this really the last season before a major renovation? Tengrinews.kz received answers to these questions from the press service of the Almaty city administration.
When does the Medeu season end?
With the arrival of spring and rising temperatures, the Medeu ice rink has switched to the following schedule:

From March 11, the rink operates only in the evening:On weekdays – Session 3: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PMOn weekends – Sessions 3 and 4: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM


"In 2024, the public skating season ended on March 15. This year, considering the wishes of residents and visitors and the favorable weather conditions for maintaining ice quality, the season will continue until the end of March," the city administration reported.

The last season before Medeu renovation?
According to the Almaty Construction Department, the renovation of Medeu is planned under an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contract in 2025.

"Accordingly, this season will be the last before the start of reconstruction," the city administration confirmed.

An EPC contract is a format in which a single contractor is fully responsible for the project from start to finish, including deadlines and quality control.
The final project cost will be determined after a state examination, but as of now, the funding amount has not been set.
According to city officials, reconstruction is scheduled from 2025 to 2027.
Alternative ice rinks
The city administration reminded residents that several ice rinks are available under the Directorate of Sports Facilities in Almaty:

Indoor ice arenas: Almaty Arena, Halyk Arena, Baluan Sholak Palace of Culture and Sports.
Open ice rinks: The high-altitude sports complex Medeu.
Mobile ice arenas: Located at the Sunkar International Ski Jump Complex and the Central Stadium.

Additionally, free outdoor rinks are organized annually for public skating.

In 2023, Almaty had six seasonal outdoor rinks.
In 2024, the number almost doubled to eleven.

With the upcoming Medeu renovation, authorities are considering further increasing the number of outdoor rinks in winter to ensure accessibility for residents.
According to the city administration, the Medeu season will last until the end of March 2025. Those who want to skate before the renovation have about two weeks left.