Each museum gives visitors the opportunity to visit the world devoted to the topic of collected rarities and unique items, and is a large information block of knowledge on a particular topic. In every city there is certainly a museum that is interesting for tourists to visit. If we talk about Moscow, then here you can’t count museums. But more recently, on May 6, 2016, another one opened its doors. This is the Museum of Hockey Glory in Moscow at the address: Avtozavodskaya street, 23 (metro Avtozavodskaya). In its halls our virtual tour will take place.
Idea of creation
Such museums have long existed in Canada and the Czech Republic, whose strong hockey teams can be seen in the championship finals. The question of opening such a museum has been raised more than once in Russia, since it also occupies a leading position in this sport.
The creation of the Museum of Hockey Glory was initiated by several sports clubs, including “Hockey Legends”. And also received the support of the hockey federation, numerous investors and enthusiasts. The creators of the museum complex previously studied the Canadian and Czech experience in creating a museum, halls and exhibits in it. An agreement was concluded with a number of similar museums to exchange experiences and exhibits.
Given the interest in hockey, the creation of the museum in Moscow was timely. At the foundation, the tasks were set: preserving the hockey historical heritage and educating the new generation of hockey players on the examples of achievements and victories of hockey teams from the middle of the 20th century to the present day.
Museum Location
The Museum of Hockey Glory in Moscow is located on Avtozavodskaya Street in the sports and entertainment quarter "Park of Legends". Previously, there was a industrial area of the ZIL plant. The authorities of the capital allocated a historical building as a monument of architecture of the 20th century as a hockey museum. The interior design is made in the style of the Stalinist Empire style, the leader in the architecture of the Soviet Union in the 40-50s. It was during these years that hockey was born in the USSR.
The building is located in the center of the sports quarter next to both sides with two huge buildings of glass and concrete. These are VTB Ice Palace and the Olympic synchronized swimming center.
Acquaintance with the Museum
The halls of the Museum of Hockey Glory on Avtozavodskaya Street are located on two floors of the building. Visitors can get acquainted with the history of hockey from its appearance in the country to incredible victories at world and European championships and the recognition of Russia as one of the leading hockey powers.
All excursions in the museum are quite interesting. They begin with the hall "Meet hockey", in which guests learn about the appearance of hockey in the country, the first hockey players, the rules of the game. There are halls dedicated to world hockey and the history of hockey in the USSR. There is a press center and a cinema hall.
Museum events and equipment
The museum is equipped with modern equipment and computerized. In the interactive zone with the use of modern technologies, visitors are given the opportunity to visit as a striker, goalkeeper or defender. This is a game, and a test of one’s own strength and endurance, as well as reaction to shots. The museum has a hall where you can view video in multidimensional formats.
Currently, the Museum of Hockey Glory has an extensive program of events, including for children, there is a large "Hall of Fame", on the second floor there is an exhibition hall "Red Machine. Pages of History". In the halls there are touchscreens for independent study of the history of hockey.
Activities include, for example, participation in the "Night of Museums". The Museum of Hockey Glory participated in this event in May 2018. During this program were carried out:
- quests in museum halls;
- various competitions on hockey themes with prizes;
- autograph session with the hockey team;
- table hockey tournament.
"Hall of Fame"
The large hall, which provides information on the legends of Russian hockey, illustrious hockey players, referees and coaches, is called the "Hall of Fame". All information about them was available in the Hockey Federation on paper. For the first time at the Olympics in Sochi, the ceremony of inclusion in the "Hall of Fame" was held. Which also served the cause of the opening of the Museum of Hockey Glory in Moscow. Currently, the members of the "Hall of Fame" are 276 people. 17 of them were introduced posthumously.
To get into the Hall of Fame, candidates must be selected by a committee that meets once a year and can replenish the lists of members of the Hall of Fame. No more than five people can be accepted, including citizens of any country associated with hockey. The general director of the Park of Legends complex Alexei Kasatonov, who was both the Olympic champion and the New Jersey player in the past, spoke about who can be nominated for membership:
... A player who becomes an Olympic champion one or more times, or has been a winner of the Olympic Games and a world champion three or more times may be nominated for inclusion in the "Hall of Fame". By the way, there are exceptions. If the nominee does not meet all the criteria, but, in the opinion of 30 percent or more of the board members, has special merit, his candidacy may also be put to a vote. The ceremony itself will be held in the "Hall of Fame" ...
Hockey History Hall
In this hall of the museum there are many exhibits telling about the history of Russian hockey and sports legends. The exhibits talk about the era of Arkady Chernyshev and Anatoly Tarasov, who worked together and in many respects contributed to the formation of the team and victory in a coordinated game over the Canadian team at the World Cup in 1963. Tarasov was responsible for the training process, and Chernyshev - for the tactics of the game.
The exhibits of the museum stand tell about the star team formed by Viktor Tikhonov, known throughout the world and baptized by the Red Machine. By the way, this is a rather interesting fact why the 70th national team of the Soviet Union on hockey was given such a name. This phrase appeared in the American media. Former captain of the US national hockey team M. Eruzione explained this phenomenon:
... they were like robots. And when they scored goals, they didn’t even smile ...
Guests can look at the elements of hockey equipment in different years and take pictures in the form of a goalkeeper. Bring the exhibits to a huge collection of hockey ammunition, a lot of personal items of famous hockey players, medals, cups, photographs, archival documents.
Museum vaults already contain about 3,000 exhibits in their vaults. Members of the Hockey Legends club and caring fans sharing their exhibits from private collections replenish them.
How to get there. Museum Hours
You can get to the museum from two metro stations located on different branches. From Avtozavodskaya you need to follow the elevated passage. Going further along the sign, it is easy to find a museum. Leaving the door of the ZIL railway station, turn left to the Water Sports Complex, then - Ice Palace. Against the background of these two massive buildings, one cannot fail to notice the museum. He is between them.
The schedule for the Hockey Museum is six days a week, from Tuesday to Sunday. Monday is a day off. The museum is open from 12:00 to 20:00. A full ticket costs 200 rubles, a reduced ticket costs 100 rubles. You can order a group ticket at a discount, and it is also possible to order group tours of the museum.
Visitors reviews
The museum appeared in the capital relatively recently, but gained popularity among Muscovites and guests of the capital. The museum’s orientation towards a wide audience makes it possible to find material both for those who first get to know so closely the history of hockey, and those who are an unrivaled connoisseur of the game with the puck. The museum is interesting for both adults and children. The smallest "hockey players" can watch cartoons about hockey. Enthusiastic reviews after visiting the museum can be heard from boys aged 10-12 years, who visited the interactive zone. They vied with each other about their impressions. About the new that they learned about hockey. And it is very possible that among them is a future member of the hockey team.