The Olomouc councilors have leaned towards the multifunctional hall project on Velkomoravská Street

Multipurpose Hall in Olomouc (project by Šuráň studio, 2020)

Olomouc – Yesterday, the Olomouc city councilors leaned towards the project of the development group Redstone based on an analysis while choosing from three options for a new multipurpose hall, which is set to replace the long-standing winter stadium near the city center. The hall is to be built on the sites of former military warehouses on Velkomoravská Street not far from downtown Olomouc. The project will require an investment of approximately 1.85 billion crowns. The financing of the construction will be ensured by the developer, and the city hall is expected to contribute to the operating costs of the hall for the next 30 years. The council’s recommendation will be discussed by the city council in June.

Experts in the analysis presented to the councilors compared the financial demands of the investment and the costs for 30 years of operating the hall. The first option involves a gradual reconstruction of the old winter stadium and the construction of a small hall nearby. The investor would be the city. Another option is the construction of a multipurpose hall on Velkomoravská Street. The construction of a new hall financed by the city hall is also under consideration. The city council recommended moving forward with the hall on Velkomoravská based on the results of the prepared analysis. The council will discuss the matter in two weeks.

According to Deputy Mayor Miloslav Tichý (ANO), the councilors approved the approach recommended by the comparative analysis. "The analysis suggests that the most advantageous option is to collaborate with a private investor on the construction of the multipurpose hall in the Velkomoravská area. Although the voting in the council was not unanimous, the majority supported this proposal," he stated. The initial annual contribution from the public sector for the operation of the hall is set to be 36.9 million crowns, of which 30 million crowns will come from the city. This amount is expected to increase with inflation. According to Richard Morávek, chairman of the board of Redstone Real Estate, this project is advantageous for the city, as it will relieve the city hall of a large initial investment in a new city hall.

Redstone has been negotiating with the city about possible cooperation in the construction and operation of a five-story multipurpose hall in the planned city district of New Velkomoravská since 2021. The city has struggled to implement its own project for a new facility providing support for sports and culture. The construction of the city hall was to cost 1.4 billion crowns, with 300 million crowns provided as a grant from the National Sports Agency. However, the grant program was not announced.

"There are no suitable grant titles from which we could draw the necessary funds for the construction of the multipurpose hall. At the same time, we did not want to burden the city, especially during a time of unfavorable interest rates, with a high loan for financing the construction of a new hall on our own and a third significant criterion is the fact that the Olomouc Region does not support a joint project of regional significance," added Mayor Miroslav Žbánek (ANO).