People in Vyškov could ice skate for the first time in the new stadium

Vyškov - The new ice rink in Vyškov welcomed its first skaters from the public on Tuesday; several hundred interested individuals of various age groups tried out the ice. Arriving in Saint Nicholas costumes, the skaters were welcomed by the city leadership, stated the city spokesman Michal Kočí in a press release today. Thanks to a permit for early use of the building, athletes were able to access the ice in mid-November. The city will pay approximately 138 million crowns for the construction of the rink, with the occupancy permit expected in January.

The mayor Karel Goldemund (ČSSD) tried out the ice in a Saint Nicholas costume, the deputy mayor Břetislav Usnul (KDU-ČSL) dressed as an angel, and the second deputy mayor Karel Jurka (ODS) as a devil. They handed out sweets to the children. "I am glad that it turned out so nicely and that we could combine the first public skating on our beautiful new rink with the Saint Nicholas gifts. There was really a lot of interest. Children and their parents admired the ice surface, the locker rooms, the colorful stands, and the overall facilities of the rink," stated Goldemund.

Skill competitions for children and short performances were organized by the Vyškov City Skating Club. The first public skating session was longer, lasting four hours, so that interested skaters could take turns. There was ultimately no crowding. According to both deputy mayors, around a hundred people were always moving on the ice, some came, others left. According to the city guards, there was also no problem with traffic and parking at the rink.

On the site of the new ice rink stood a stadium from the 1970s just a year ago, which was demolished due to its unsatisfactory condition. The new rink covers an area of approximately 4000 square meters. The building's foundation is a self-supporting steel structure 14.5 meters high. On the first floor, there are locker rooms and sanitary facilities, technical facilities for the ice surface, and a restaurant. The second floor features stands and a restaurant with a view of the ice.

The rink was built by the company Zimní stadion Vyškov, which will also operate it for 15 years based on a concession agreement. The company is a subsidiary of H+H Technika, which builds and operates rinks in the Czech Republic and abroad. The city will pay nearly 138 million crowns for the rink. Vyškov will pay this amount in six installments, with the first payment scheduled for the end of 2018.