The Hall of the Comets will not be in Brno at the velodrome site, but at Pavilion Z

Brno - Brno will not build a multifunctional hall for the hockey team Kometa at the exhibition grounds in the current velodrome location, but rather near Pavilion Z in the western part of the exhibition grounds. The mayor, Markéta Vaňková (ODS), told journalists today. The new location is better in terms of time, connection to public transport, and parking. The construction of the hall will cost 1.4 billion crowns and will offer 12,000 seats. The DRFG Arena, with 7,700 seats, is already insufficient in capacity.

The new location for the hall was approved today by the steering committee for strategic projects, which falls under the mayor. A design team was also created, consisting of politicians, the owner of Kometa Brno, Libor Zábranský, the general director of the municipal company Brněnské komunikace, Luděk Borový, as well as representatives of the city's administration and municipal companies.

The hall for Kometa was originally supposed to be built behind Lužánky, where there is also a dilapidated football stadium. However, due to property disputes, the city cannot build either a new stadium or a hockey hall there. Hence, there was talk of the hockey hall being built at the exhibition grounds in the location of the cycling oval.

However, it would have to wait until the velodrome is moved to Komárov in the Brno-South district; only then could the construction of the hall begin. The city leadership, composed of representatives from ODS, KDU-ČSL, Pirates, and ČSSD, ultimately agreed that it is better to build the hall near Pavilion Z in the western part of the exhibition grounds, which is better connected to public transport and offers more parking space.

The decision was welcomed by Jiří Kuliš, the general director of Brno Exhibitions. "We consider the placement of the new multifunctional hall in the Brno exhibition grounds in the area behind Hall Z to be an important strategic step for further development of the area and utilization of the exhibition infrastructure. The connection of the exhibition grounds and multifunctional sports hall is a common solution," Kuliš stated.

According to Deputy Mayor Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL), this does not change the fact that the city continues to work on the project of building a velodrome in Komárov. "On the contrary. The city's aim is to constantly build the velodrome in the area of Hněvkovského Street. If the Czech state sends money for it as promised, then we will build the velodrome,” Hladík added. The velodrome is expected to cost around 350 million crowns. After the velodrome is moved to Komárov, the old velodrome at the exhibition grounds will remain reserved for sports. However, it is still unclear what will be there. Previously, there was talk of building a speed skating oval; the city also lacks a location for a new football stadium. According to councilor for sports Jaroslav Suchý (KDU-ČSL), it has just been decided that there will not be a hockey hall there; everything else is a question of the future and further negotiations.

Talk of building a hall for Kometa at the exhibition grounds began after Kometa won the highest league title two years ago after 51 years. The efforts were further strengthened by the fact that Kometa successfully defended its title last year.