Brno wants to demolish the old winter stadium and open an ice rink next to it

Brno - The city of Brno is most likely going to demolish the dilapidated winter stadium at Lužánky this year and will start building a recreational ice rink for the public nearby. The investment, with total costs of nearly 100 million crowns, was approved by the city council today. If the councilors agree, the long-planned renewal of the once-busy Ponava sports complex will begin, culminating in the reconstruction of the football stadium in the coming years. Mayor Roman Onderka told ČTK today.
The winter stadium, where Brno hockey players once enjoyed many successes, has long been in a dilapidated state. The city plans to level nearly the entire structure to the ground. The steel structures will be sold as secondary raw material, and the rubble will be used to partially fill the resulting construction pit and level the terrain. Only part of the former changing rooms will remain standing, which will later serve as the facilities for the new rink.
The public ice rink could serve people from autumn 2009. According to Onderka, it will be functional at temperatures up to 15 degrees above zero. "It will be mobile so that the sports facility can be relocated in case an investor is found who wants to utilize the land under the winter stadium and its surroundings," said Onderka. In the past, there was talk of building a parking garage, but there are more possibilities. "We believe that potential investors will be interested after the stadium is demolished, given the large area available," the mayor stated.
The investment approved by the council anticipates that the city will spend 72.3 million crowns this year on the demolition of the stadium and the construction of the rink, and 26.1 million crowns next year.
The extensive area behind Lužánky also includes a football stadium, which has been out of service for years. The city has already commissioned architects to develop a project for the reconstruction, which is estimated to cost around a billion crowns. Designers are expected to present their proposal in the autumn. Behind Lužánky, there is also the Boby hotel, a swimming stadium, and other facilities.

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