New Trèfle-Blanc ice rink: key orientations validated

The steering committee of the new ice rink has validated the outlines of the future venue located at Trèfle-Blanc. Scheduled for completion by 2028 at the latest, the infrastructure will include two ice surfaces, one of which will have a public capacity of 8,500 seats, an underground parking facility with more than 1,000 spaces, as well as commercial areas totaling nearly 20,000 m².

Following the decision taken in January 2019 to abandon the new ice rink projects previously carried by private stakeholders, the Council of State reactivated at the same time a political steering committee chaired by Thierry Apothéloz, State Councillor in charge of the Department of Social Cohesion. This committee has met several times since the beginning of the year in order to validate the initial orientations of the project.

The Council of State decided to opt for public financing and to include the new ice rink project in the ten-year investment plan (PDI) of the canton of Geneva. The investment amount included in the PDI stands at 157 million francs. This cost estimate is considered prudent, as it lies in the upper range of construction costs for recent ice rinks in Switzerland.

The development of two ice surfaces has been favored in order to meet high standards. One of them will have a capacity of 8,500 seats, a scale that meets the requirements of the Swiss Ice Hockey League as well as those of the future resident club and tenant, the Genève-Servette Hockey Club.

The new venue will allow the GSHC to train, but also to organize high-quality matches and to host supporters, the public and the club’s partners in optimal conditions. At the same time, the relocation of the GSHC to this new infrastructure will free up ice surfaces for other users at the Vernets sports center, managed by the City of Geneva.

The construction of the infrastructure will take place on the Trèfle-Blanc site in Lancy, where the State owns the land with the exception of one plot. Thanks to its immediate proximity to Lancy-Bachet station, the site is easily accessible via the Léman Express. Located at the entrance to the city, it will benefit from extensive public transport connections and will promote soft mobility through a multimodal interface. Covering an area of 28,000 m², the Trèfle-Blanc site also includes the construction of an underground P+R parking facility with a capacity of 1,000 to 1,200 spaces and commercial premises totaling nearly 20,000 m².

The project is currently progressing according to the established operational schedule. A feasibility study relating to the overall architectural concept and the compatibility of the venue for hosting other events has been launched and entrusted to an external consultant, with conclusions expected in autumn 2020. The inauguration of the new ice rink is scheduled for no later than 2028.

Thierry Apothéloz emphasizes that this ice rink is intended to become an emblematic venue for the canton. “In sporting terms, ice hockey holds a prominent place in the lives of Geneva’s population. Several times a week, this discipline brings together fans, welcomes families, mixes generations and creates social cohesion.”

The State Councillor recalls that this sport deserves a venue worthy of its status, both to host elite teams and young talent, as well as to welcome the general public. This construction project will also help stimulate the Geneva economy and generate employment, both during the construction phase and, ultimately, during the operational phase.