When the puck drops in Jihlava, Czech Republic, fans won’t just be watching a hockey game—they’ll be witnessing a world first. The Horácká Multifunkční Aréna has become the inaugural venue on the planet to permanently embed a full-scale in-ice LED display beneath its rink. Developed by Finnish innovators LedFoil, this futuristic surface transforms the ice into a living canvas of vibrant graphics, real-time messages, and immersive advertising, promising to change how the sport looks and feels forever.
Czech Hockey Stadium Unveils The World’s First In-ice LED Display
Unlike anything spectators have ever seen, this installation rewrites the rulebook for ice sports. The LED display’s modular panels interlock seamlessly below the frozen surface, forming a pulsating digital layer engineered to withstand the relentless impact of slapshots, collisions, and shifting temperatures.
Each panel features advanced hydrophobic coatings and specialized protective treatments that repel moisture and prevent frost build-up, preserving crystal-clear visibility even at sub-zero conditions. Throughout a game, dynamic content rotates every 30 seconds—up to 12 distinct messages in a single match—blending sponsor promotions, live social media feeds, and interactive experiences into one breathtaking spectacle.
Bederich Scerban, CEO of HC Dukla Jihlava, underscored the impact: “Ice displays bring a new dimension to hockey games and give us the opportunity to offer even better experiences to both our fans and partners.”
While the Czech project is the first permanent in-ice LED, pioneering arenas worldwide have experimented with LED-integrated courts that redefine how audiences experience live sports. Among the most groundbreaking examples:
Oulun Kärpät Arena (Finland): The same LedFoil system was previously trialed here on a temporary basis, turning a single static logo into six rotating advertisements that multiplied commercial revenue.
ASB GlassFloor (Germany): A revolutionary glass LED basketball floor capable of displaying fully dynamic markings, animated graphics, and sponsor content in real time. This technology has featured in FIBA tournaments and international showcases, setting a new bar for multi-purpose sports surfaces. (For more details, see our related article on the ASB GlassFloor.)
NBA All-Star LED Court (United States): During the NBA All-Star Weekend, the league unveiled a fully LED basketball floor co-developed with ASB GlassFloor and Moment Factory. For the first time in professional basketball, the court became an immersive digital canvas, delivering live stats, interactive effects, and animated visuals that synced perfectly with gameplay.
These installations prove that dynamic LED surfaces aren’t just a novelty—they are transforming sports arenas into experiential hubs where technology, storytelling, and live competition converge.
The permanent in-ice LED display in Jihlava signals more than an engineering feat—it’s a glimpse into the future of live sports. By turning the rink into a programmable canvas, teams and sponsors can deliver targeted content that evolves with every face-off and power play.
Kinglight – professional LED supplier
From real-time promotions and audience participation to spectacular visual shows, these displays are setting new expectations for what a game day can be. As more leagues and stadiums race to adopt similar technology, one thing is clear: this isn’t just the next chapter in arena design—it’s the dawn of an era where every match becomes an unforgettable multimedia experience.
