Salavat Yulaev Ice Palace

The Sports Palace "Salavat Yulaev" in Ufa opened its doors on 28 October 1967 as the first ice palace in the city, built by Construction Trust No. 3 under the direction of the Ufa Instrument-Building Plant. The facility was designed by the Bashkirgradproject institute and stands today as a registered object of cultural heritage of regional significance.

While the city's top-flight team moved to the larger arena in August 2007, the older hall found a new purpose. Since 2009 it has served as the home for the MHL team "Tolpar" and the women's side "Agidel". The interior reflects this shift in focus; the main ice surface measures 61 by 30 metres. The capacity sits at 3,500, a figure that has shrunk from an original 4,000, though the core of the building remains largely as it was.

Significant work was carried out in 2012 to prepare the venue for the 2013 IIHF World U20 Championship. The roof, facade, ventilation and safety systems were upgraded, and modern cooling systems were installed to maintain the artificial ice. The climate control system is designed to keep the stands warm while the ice stays cool. Before the major renovation, the lighting and scoreboards had already been updated in the 1990s.

The arena’s history stretches back further than hockey. It hosted the 1970 USSR Boxing Cup, the 1974 USSR Freestyle Wrestling Championship and the 1975 USSR Artistic Gymnastics Championship. It also welcomed exhibition volleyball matches between Russia and Japan in 1997 and has been the setting for concerts, including a performance by Zemfira. The hall offers a smaller arena with 1,500 standing places, but the main event space is the primary draw for local supporters.