Brno wants to negotiate the purchase of properties hindering the construction of the stadium

Brno - Brno wants to continue negotiations with businessman Libor Procházka, whose properties on city-owned land are hindering the construction of a football stadium at Lužánky. City councilors decided today that the city should offer Procházka money. They rejected arbitration proceedings or an arbitration court with the businessman regarding how much the city should pay him for the use of the properties. The mayor's deputy Richard Mrázek (ANO) told reporters that the city will, however, prepare for arbitration proceedings.

Procházka's underground garages, tennis hall, and access roads are valued at approximately a quarter of a billion crowns. Procházka does not want money for them, but other properties. Previous proposals for possible exchanges failed due to resistance from residents and some politicians.

Procházka sent the city a pre-litigation reminder and is demanding 36 million crowns for the use of certain areas. For example, people use the roof of his garages as a parking lot and also travel on the surrounding roads. The city previously lost a court case against Procházka regarding the use of the garage roofs and then settled with the businessman by paying 13 million crowns. This was supposed to be a starting step towards an agreement that the city would exchange the businessman’s properties for some of its own buildings. Initially, an exchange for nine apartment buildings was proposed, but this was opposed by their residents and some politicians. In a subsequent proposal, an exchange for five historical buildings in the city center was suggested, which was also disagreeable to other politicians. Therefore, the city leadership backed away from the exchange.

Mayor Petr Vokřál (ANO) stated that even if the city builds a hall or stadium elsewhere, it must resolve the issues in the area. Procházka can demand an estimated 15 million crowns annually based on the use of the areas by people, according to Vokřál. The ANO movement, therefore, proposes arbitration or a court that would determine how much and for what the city should pay. There are various court opinions that are contradictory. Additionally, the city believes that some of the roads do not belong to Procházka, and therefore it should not have to pay for their use.

The proposal for arbitration or a court had previously not passed the council and was not supported by the councilors either. However, Mrázek stated that the city leadership's proposal will continue to be prepared.

The stadium at Lužánky has been deteriorating since the beginning of the millennium, where Zbrojovka won its only title in the football league in 1978. The city plans to build a new stadium there for two billion crowns with a capacity of 30,000 seats. A hockey hall is also planned to be nearby.