Opposition will not support the renovation of the summer stadium in Pardubice

Karel Řepa, summer stadium in Pardubice; source: fkpardubice.cz

Pardubice - The opposition ODS in Pardubice will not support the modernization of the summer stadium. According to them, the entire area and its surroundings can be repaired more cheaply than for more than half a billion crowns. The city leadership will try to push the project through for the second time on Monday.

"The technical solution is very nice, but very expensive. Taking out a loan for it is very unnecessary. A similar stadium was approved last year in Karviná with about half the costs," said ODS representative Petr Klimpl to reporters today.

The opposition party believes that the city should have done more to secure subsidies from the state, the region, and negotiate support from the football association. They consider it a mistake that the city will be the sole investor. Meanwhile, they want a stadium where the first league will be played, Klimpl stated.

Before the city council meeting, the city released a report stating that the repair of the stadium itself will cost 330 million crowns, while the remaining expenses are intended for building additional facilities for athletes, parking spaces, lighting, and adjustments to the Elbe riverbank.

"However, the remaining expenses are so-called induced investments; a parking lot must be built, bus arrivals must be secured, and so on. Without that, the city will not be able to approve the summer stadium," Klimpl said.

The city wants to carry out the modernization of the stadium from 1931 in the years 2019 and 2020. The complex was created according to the designs of architects Karel Řepa and Ferdinand Potůček. It was named Masaryk All-Sports Stadium and was built during the first nationwide exhibition of physical education and sports in Pardubice. The fighters' gate with a small grandstand, which is part of the stadium, is a cultural monument.