Jihlava plans to rebuild the Horácký Stadium for half a billion

Author: arch. Jaroslav Huňáček, AS project

Jihlava - The Jihlava City Hall plans to convert the Horácký Winter Stadium into a multifunctional hall. The current metal roof structure is nearing its end. According to the static assessment, its lifespan will end within seven years. The costs of reconstructing the entire sports complex are estimated at around half a billion crowns. The city will seek grants, Mayor Jaroslav Vymazal (ODS) told journalists today.
     Next to the stadium, the city is already building a public sports facility for ice sports with the support of the union, at a cost of about 200 million. This construction will be completed in the spring of next year.
     After the reconstruction of the Horácký Stadium, there could also be a wooden floor and facilities for cultural events, in addition to the ice surface. There should be 5,200 seats for spectators. Jihlava already has project documentation and a building permit. "Now we will address co-financing," the mayor stated. The city will again try to obtain grants from European funds and will negotiate with the region. According to Vymazal, the reconstruction could ideally start in two years.
     The roofing of the Horácký Winter Stadium has been in operation since 1968. With the exception of coatings, no major maintenance has been performed on it. "It is a gathering area for 4,000 spectators. For the city as the owner, safety is a priority," said Deputy Mayor Petr Pospíchal (ČSSD).
     Experts examined the roof over the summer and prepared a static assessment. According to them, the lifespan of the roof will end in 2019. They believe that the original structure could not support a new roof, which is why the city is planning to reconstruct the entire sports complex. Until then, Dukla Jihlava, which uses the stadium, must take care of removing snow from the roof.
     In Jihlava, there were previously debates about whether it would be better to build a new winter stadium on a "green field" outside the city. According to the mayor, however, it would require finding a billion crowns. "We chose the path that was realistic," he said. According to him, the people of Jihlava are already accustomed to having the winter stadium in the middle of the city.