Prague will have a static assessment of Strahov Stadium by the end of the year

Prague – The Prague City Hall will have an updated structural assessment of the Strahov Stadium by the end of this year. Subsequently, the city leadership wants to determine the next steps regarding its reconstruction. Jan Chabr (TOP 09), the city councilor for property, stated this to ČTK. The City Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) is also preparing a competition assignment that should address the layout of the stadium and its surroundings.

According to Chabr, the Klokner Institute of the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) is preparing the assessment update for the city hall. "Based on that, a decision should be made on what to do with the stadium next," he said. He added that the reconstruction of the stadium could cost billions of crowns and that the city might carry it out in parts. Among the listed heritage-protected stands, the ones in the southern part of the stadium are reportedly in the worst condition.

In recent years, there has been repeated speculation that the city could sell or demolish the Strahov Stadium, which has a capacity of 220,000 spectators. Chabr ruled that out, also referring to heritage protection. According to earlier media reports, groups such as Penta, J&T, CPI, or Accolade expressed interest in purchasing part or all of the area from one of the owners. New residential buildings are already standing around the stadium, and the location is attractive for development companies.

Chabr did not entirely rule out construction, but he stated that the predominant function should be sports. The entire area, including the large stadium owned by the city and the smaller stadiums of Evžen Rošický and Friendship, which belong to the Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) and also the neighboring dormitories of ČVUT, should be addressed in the forthcoming competition. FAČR has previously indicated that instead of the Evžen Rošický Stadium, it is considering building a new modern stadium for the football club Sparta.

The city is also planning to extend the tram line from Malovanka directly to the stadium. According to earlier statements, the city hall is also planning to place a permanent exhibition of the Museum of Memory of the 20th Century, which it established two years ago, in the heritage-protected stands of the stadium in the future.

The stadium was built on the land bounded by today's streets Athletic and Vaníčkova for the purpose of holding All-Sokol Slets in 1926, according to a design by architect Alois Dryák. It was later expanded multiple times, and between 1960-1975 the complex was completely completed for the needs of national Spartakiads. The last Spartakiad took place at the stadium in 1985. After the fall of communism, the area hosted concerts by world stars and various exhibition events.