1. Introduction

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is the global governing body for international ice hockey, representing 84 member associations, each serving as the national governing body of the sport within its respective country.

In addition to maintaining the international rulebook, managing international player transfers, and setting officiating guidelines, the IIHF delivers multiple development programmes designed to expand the reach of ice hockey globally.

Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the IIHF organises:

  • More than 35 international tournaments and competitions annually
  • Two annual Congresses
  • Multiple conferences and seminars

2. Background, Vision and Purpose

The sports industry is rapidly evolving from traditional business-to-business (B2B) models towards direct-to-consumer (D2C) engagement. To remain competitive and continue driving the global growth of ice hockey, the IIHF requires a new digital platform capable of supporting both fan engagement and governance responsibilities.

The proposed website will be a central pillar of the ICE26 Strategy, supporting:

  • Digital transformation
  • Global brand growth
  • Fan acquisition and engagement
  • Commercial partnerships
  • Worldwide promotion of ice hockey

The platform will serve as both:

  1. A key asset within the fan acquisition and engagement funnel
  2. A digital infrastructure supporting IIHF’s governance functions

The new IIHF website should directly support the ICE26 Strategy by enabling the organisation to:

  • Undertake a digital transformation programme
  • Strengthen IIHF’s global presence
  • Strengthen commercial partnerships
  • Create engaging promotional campaigns
  • Inspire long-term passion for ice hockey across generations

The IIHF invites qualified agencies and technology partners to submit proposals for the design, development, and implementation of this new digital website platform.

Project Goal

By developing a deeper understanding of audiences through first-party data, the IIHF aims to secure long-term growth and expansion.

With better audience insights, the IIHF intends to become the “Hub of World Hockey” — a year-round destination providing stakeholders and fans with engaging, relevant, and dynamic global ice hockey content.

The platform should:

  • Support year-round fan engagement beyond tournament windows
  • Balance governance communications with immersive fan-first content
  • Position IIHF as a fan-centric organisation serving diverse global audiences

3. Key Insights

During the 2024/25 season, IIHF recorded strong growth across:

  • Social media channels
  • OTT platforms
  • Database growth initiatives

However, website engagement remained highly event-driven, with 76% of traffic generated organically via search.

At the same time, IIHF-owned digital platforms demonstrated significantly stronger engagement when built around:

  • Live content
  • Personalisation
  • Interactive features

Findings from the 2025 Fan Survey

The survey revealed:

  • 74% of fans develop interest in hockey before age 14
  • Fans primarily seek:
    • Scores
    • Schedules
    • Tournament information
  • Personalised and relevant content drives repeat engagement
  • Media visibility and storytelling are major engagement drivers, particularly in Women’s Ice Hockey

These insights highlight the need to evolve from an event-led website into a platform designed for habitual use and long-term fan engagement.

4. Conditions of Tender

Interested tenderers are invited to submit proposals to:

International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
Brandschenkestrasse 50
Postfach 1817
8027 Zurich
Switzerland

📧 Email: Compliance@iihfoffice.com

Submission Deadline

03 June 2026
17:00 (Zurich Time)

Late submissions may not be considered.



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