First Legacy Project of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
A new milestone was reached yesterday at the BCF Arena with the official inauguration of a newly built women’s locker room, marking the first legacy project of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
The project is the result of a tripartite collaboration between the Fribourg 2026 Association, the Organizing Committee of the 2026 IIHF WM, and Fribourg-Gottéron, with joint financing by the 2026 IIHF WM and the FR26 Association. It reflects a broader commitment to ensuring the Championship leaves a lasting legacy, not just for international hockey, but also for local communities and women’s sport in Switzerland.
A small inauguration ceremony was held on-site and was organized by Marc-André Berset, Manager Communication & Brand at Fribourg-Gottéron. The event was attended by key representatives from the organizing bodies, local authorities, and Fribourg-Gottéron, including:
- Matti Nurminen, Director General of the IIHF
- Christian Hofstetter, Secretary General of the 2026 IIHF WM
- Nicolas Marbach, Head of Venue Fribourg, 2026 IIHF WM
- Romain Collaud, President of the Fribourg 2026 Association
- Pierre Olivier Nobs, representing local authorities
- Marc-André Berset, Director of the Fribourg 2026 Association
- Yvan Haymoz, Vice President of Fribourg-Gottéron and of the Fribourg 2026 Association
- John Gobbi, CEO of Fribourg-Gottéron
- Jenna Suokko, player, Fribourg-Gottéron Ladies
Supporting Long-Term Growth and Local Impact
The new locker room, dedicated to the Fribourg-Gottéron women’s team, who play at the highest level of Swiss ice hockey, stands as a tangible symbol of the event’s long-term goals: to promote gender equality, improve infrastructure, and foster grassroots development.
Matti Nurminen, Director General, IIHF:
“This project reflects what we strive for at the IIHF - to ensure that major events like the World Championship contribute to long-term development at the grassroots level. It’s inspiring to see the first legacy project of the 2026 IIHF WM come to life here in Fribourg, supporting the women’s game and creating lasting value for the local community.”
Christian Hofstetter, Secretary General, 2026 IIHF WM:
“It is a great pleasure for me to inaugurate the first legacy project of the 2026 IIHF WM here in Fribourg with the newly built locker room. My sincere thanks go to everyone involved who made this joint effort possible. Our goal is for the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship to provide sustainable momentum not only for ice hockey, but also for the entire region.”
Romain Collaud, President of the Fribourg 2026 Association:
“For the Association and the entities providing logistical planning around the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship - namely the State and the City - promoting the event’s legacy is a priority. We are very proud to be able to offer a new, top-class locker room, both for the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and for women’s hockey.”
John Gobbi, CEO of Fribourg-Gottéron:
“Fribourg-Gottéron is very proud to offer this new locker room to our women’s team. We want our arena to provide the best possible conditions for everyone, and this is a perfect opportunity to turn the legacy of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship into something valuable for our teams.”
This project represents more than just new infrastructure - it reflects the values of inclusivity, community investment, and sporting excellence that are central to the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.