The hockey hall for Kometa for 1.4 billion will be built at the exhibition center

Brno - A multifunctional hall for the hockey team Kometa will be built at the exhibition grounds in Brno. It could be completed in 2022, the mayor Petr Vokřál (ANO) told reporters today. According to him, the costs will be around 1.4 billion crowns, which should be covered by the city, the region, the state, and the private sector. The hall was originally supposed to be built behind Lužánky, where the city plans to construct a new football stadium in place of the old one. However, the city has unresolved property rights issues with businessman Libor Procházka, who owns properties there. According to Vokřál, construction of the hockey hall cannot be delayed given that Kometa defended its extra league title over the weekend.

The hall would be built at the exhibition grounds in the area of the cycling circuit. Brno plans to construct a new velodrome in the Brno-south district around Hněvskovská street for about half a billion crowns, thereby freeing up space at the exhibition grounds. "We can no longer afford to wait considering what the guys from Kometa have achieved. The public would be very disappointed if we didn’t manage to present a real concept for the hall in real-time," stated Vokřál. Kometa won the title last year after 51 years and managed to defend it this year.

According to Vokřál, the goal is for 30 to 40 percent of the costs for the hall to be covered by the state. The government in resignation will discuss this in Brno, and is planning a visit to the South Moravian region on May 2 and 3. Prime Minister in resignation Andrej Babiš (ANO) stated this on Twitter. "Congratulations to HC Kometa. And I won't forget the promises. On May 2 and 3, the government will be in Brno to see where the new hall should be built. Construction could start in 2020 and finish in 2022," wrote Babiš.

The hall was originally supposed to be located behind Lužánky next to the planned football stadium. However, the city cannot yet build it because it has unresolved property rights issues with businessman Procházka, who has a tennis hall, underground garages, and roads on the city’s land behind Lužánky. Procházka’s property is valued at around a quarter of a billion, and the city is trying to negotiate with him on how to acquire the properties.

The multifunctional hall for Kometa and other sports has been discussed for several years. Currently, the hockey players play at the DRFG arena, the former Rondo hall, which has been in operation since 1982. It has a capacity of 7,700 for hockey, and home games for Kometa are often sold out.