The Minister of Sports of Russia and Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee, **Mikhail Degtyaryov**, shared the outcomes of his meeting with KHL President **Alexei Morozov** and Vice President **Alexei Krasnov**.
“We discussed the results of the 2024/2025 season with the management of the Kontinental Hockey League, including President Alexei Morozov and Vice President Alexei Krasnov. Topics included the start of the new championship, the commercial aspects of club and league operations, and the development of youth sports. The KHL is achieving record attendance figures at arenas and has seen an increase in content views on social media. The hockey audience is expanding, which is encouraging.
Alexei Morozov mentioned that an educational platform has been established for players, allowing hockey athletes to gain relevant knowledge during their downtime from training and games, covering topics from financial literacy to personal brand development. This is vital for all athletes as they should be prepared for life after their sports careers.
Strategically, the league is moving towards ensuring that professional sports can meet their financial needs primarily through commercial sponsorship rather than relying on government companies or the state budget. Last year, commercial revenue increased by 36%, reaching 12.4 billion rubles.
The KHL has assumed a social responsibility role, participating in the Adaptive Hockey Festival, regularly organizing the Continental Cup for sled hockey, and actively supporting competitions for individuals with disabilities. The league has begun the accreditation of agents and is working with them to identify issues that may drive players away.
I would also like to highlight the support program for youth sports schools and children’s coaches. The KHL has established a ranking system based on players currently competing in Russia and annually allocates funds to schools and coaches. The top coach can receive a payment of up to 1 million rubles,” wrote Degtyaryov on his Telegram channel.
