CSKA Arena Multipurpose Sports Complex, Moscow

CSKA Arena is one of Moscow’s largest ice sports arenas and the home venue of CSKA Hockey Club. The arena hosts Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) games, sports tournaments, concerts, business events, and other large-scale events. The complex’s main arena has a capacity of up to 12,100 spectators.

Before the modernization, the facility operated a ticketing and access control system supplied by a third-party manufacturer, which had been discontinued and was no longer supported. Further technical support for the equipment was therefore unavailable, creating operational risks for a venue with a high event load.

This required a complete replacement of the ticketing and access control system while maintaining uninterrupted operation of the complex and ensuring that scheduled events could continue as normal.

Infomatika was tasked with the following objectives:

• Modernize the sports complex’s ticketing and access control infrastructure without disrupting the facility’s operations;
• Ensure high throughput at entrance areas during large-scale events;
• Provide centralized access control for different categories of visitors and staff;
• Integrate the new system with the complex’s existing digital and engineering infrastructure;
• Create a reliable and scalable system that supports future development and ongoing technical support.

Infomatika carried out a comprehensive replacement of the CSKA Arena ticketing and access control system and implemented the LENTA-Sport automated management system. The solution covers the entire internal security perimeter of the complex and integrates ticket sales and validation, access control, management of access control equipment, and interaction with external information systems.

Key Project Components:

• LENTA-Sport Automated Management System. The venue-wide ticketing and access control system automates ticket sales and accounting, access authorization, and visitor entry management. The software, server equipment, automated staff workstations, and access control devices are integrated into a single digital infrastructure.
• Vector Plus Smart Turnstiles. Installed at the main entrance pavilions for general spectators, dedicated entrances for different categories of visitors and staff, as well as at exits from the multi-level parking facility. The equipment is designed for intensive operation and provides automated ticket validation and high throughput during peak periods. In emergency situations, a free-passage mode enables unobstructed evacuation.
• Vector Gate Smart Gates. Installed as part of the entrance areas to provide convenient access for visitors with reduced mobility.
• Mobile Ticket Validation Terminals. Used by access control staff for on-the-spot ticket validation and to set up additional access control points during events.
• Fencing System. Creates controlled entrance zones and guides visitor flows through the access control equipment.

The system’s throughput capacity enables 100% occupancy of the main arena within the standard 30-minute period before an event, exceeding the requirement to admit at least 70% of the venue’s total capacity within the same period, as stipulated by Order No. 1092 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

System Management Infrastructure

For centralized management of the LENTA-Sport automated management system, automated workstations for manager-administrators and the Central System Control Unit (CSCU) were deployed.

The automated workstations enable real-time management of the entire system, control interaction with external information systems, monitor the status of each access control device, and provide the required financial and management reports.

The LENTA-Sport automated management system is integrated with the facility’s external systems. The project included the following integrations:

• Integration gateway for external ticketing agents;
• Integration gateway for external information systems;
• Integration gateway for the parking infrastructure.

The integrations bring together ticket sales and validation, access control, and interaction with related information systems within the facility’s unified infrastructure.

One of the key project requirements was to carry out the modernization without disrupting the facility’s operations. Installation work was performed on dates agreed with the arena’s operations team, during intervals between scheduled events.

In parallel, commissioning of the installed equipment was carried out, along with the installation of server equipment with pre-installed application software. Upon completion of the work, Infomatika specialists conducted comprehensive system testing, provided staff training, and supported the system during the commissioning and launch phase.

• Manufacturing, delivery, and installation of Vector Plus smart turnstiles — 38 units;

• Manufacturing, delivery, and installation of Vector Gate smart gates — 3 units;

• Manufacturing, delivery, and installation of the fencing system;

• Delivery of mobile ticket validation terminals — 11 units;

• Delivery of staff workstation equipment: Manager-Administrator Workstations — 2 units; Central System Control Unit (CSCU) Workstation — 1 unit;

• Integration gateway for external ticketing agents;

• Integration gateway for external information systems;

• Integration gateway for the parking system;

• Equipment commissioning.