Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
159
Olympic medalist. Most tournaments are in January or February in the
Olimpiisky
Stadium
(see below for complete address and contact information); check the Russian
Figure Skating Federation website (www.goldskate.ru) or the International Skating
Union (www.isu.com) for schedules.
HOCKEY
Russians are among the world's best practitioners of hockey, which is no surprise given
their nation's icy latitude. Many NHL stars have come back to play with their home
teams—or coach them—which has boosted the level of play after the rough and cash-
poor 1990s. Sponsorship from Russia's flush oil corporations has also helped. Check
The
Moscow Times
(www.themoscowtimes.com) or the Russian Hockey Federation (www.
russianhockey.net) for Russian or European championship matches, or for season
matches involving CSKA (Red Army) or Dinamo, Moscow's premier clubs. Crowds at
the
CSKA Sports Complex
can be rowdy, especially for evening matches or highly sensi-
tive standoffs, such as Russia and Ukraine. Join in the fun and keep a low profile, and
you should have no trouble. Tickets are sold at theater kiosks around town. Chances of
getting tickets for a big championship match at the stadium are slim, unless you resort
to scalpers. For smaller matches it's easy to show up and purchase tickets; prices can be
as low as 75 rubles. Advance tickets are also available at theater kiosks around town. See
below for complete address and contact information for the CSKA arena.
SOCCER
Soccer actually beats out hockey as Russians' favorite sport. Any Muscovite you meet can
fill you in on the standings of their home teams, CSKA, Dinamo, Spartak, and of course
the national team. Hotel employees can often help you get tickets. The season for local
matches runs March to November. Tickets for major international matches are bought
up by speculators and not available at the stadium the day of the game, but any other
match is easy to get into on the spur of the moment for just a few dollars. Theater kiosks
around town also sell advance tickets to the bigger events. The main stadium is are
Luzh-
niki Sports Complex
(avoid sections B and D, where the roughest fans gather). Dinamo
Stadium is closed for renovations. See below for complete address and contact informa-
tion for the stadiums. See www.uefa.com for upcoming European League matches in
Moscow.
TENNIS TOURNAMENTS
Russian names have packed the rosters of the world's top tennis tournaments in recent
years, with the women especially dominating the sport. Moscow's Kremlin Cup, held
every October at Olimpiisky Stadium, has become a big international tournament, and
Moscow frequently hosts the Davis Cup as well. Tickets for these events are available
online at www.kremlincup.ru or www.daviscup.com. Theater kiosks around town also
sell tickets, though you must purchase them well in advance. Matches are held at the
following venues:
•
Luzhniki Sports Complex,
24 Luzhniki Ulitsa.
&
495/785-9717.
www.luzhniki.ru.
Metro: Sportivnaya.
•
CSKA (Red Army) Sports Complex,
39a Leningradsky Prospekt.
&
495/613-2288.
Metro: Aeroport.
•
Olimpiisky Sports Complex,
16 Olimpiisky Prospekt.
&
495/688-1533.
Metro:
Prospekt Mira.
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