Floorball in Vientiane is about to get its first permanent base.
From 1 April, the Lao Floorball Federation will take over a sports venue known as Box Underground.
“For the last two years, people have been texting us asking, ‘Where do you play? Where can my kid get a stick?’” says Emanuel Lakongseng, the federation’s key organiser.
“And we haven’t had a place.”
Until now, the federation has only had about two hours of weekly training time, mainly used by the national team. The new venue will change that.
A risky but important step
The new venue marks a major step forward for the young sport in Laos.
The federation has signed a two-year lease worth USD 30,000, which includes access to gym equipment, storage rooms, showers and a small apartment.
“The rental fee is still keeping me awake at night,” Emanuel admits, adding that the federation has not yet secured full funding for the rent.
The venue is not large enough for a full-size floorball court.
Instead, the federation plans to set up a 3-versus-3 court, a smaller format that requires fewer players and is easier to organise while the sport is still developing in Laos.
“Now we can put it on Google Maps”
The federation also hopes the venue will become a meeting point for the wider floorball community.
“It should be that you have a club, and the club is a member of the federation,” he says.
Future clubs will be able to rent court time for their own training sessions, and international schools or private groups may also use the space.
After two years of borrowed spaces and temporary arrangements, the new venue finally gives the sport something it has lacked in Laos: a fixed address.
“Now we can put it on Google Maps and say: here is the Lao Floorball Development Centre,” he says.
And from there, the hope is that more children – and more clubs – will follow.
Opening expected after Lao New Year
Although the takeover is set for 1 April, activities will likely begin after Lao New Year, with a first event hoped for around early May.
From there, the venue could host children’s classes, club training, national team sessions and a summer programme, depending on staff capacity.
The Lao Floorball Federation has established a permanent home at Box Underground in Vientiane, officially designated as the Lao Floorball Development Centre. This new hub features a specialized 3-versus-3 court, a gym, and staff facilities, ending the sport’s reliance on temporary spaces. Opening in May 2026, the center will host national team training, youth classes, and community rentals to grow floorball following its recent International Floorball Federation membership. https://thespikevolleyball.com/