90 years ago, the stadium in Štvanice was opened, but today it is history

Prague – The winter stadium in Prague's Štvanice has experienced many famous moments, officially opened 90 years ago on November 6, 1932. The first artificial ice rink in Czechoslovakia was mainly associated with hockey, with the premier match played at the still under-construction stadium back in January 1931. Štvanice hosted the World Championships four times, in 1933, 1938, 1947, and 1959, and during the penultimate one, its stands witnessed the first title for the Czechoslovak national team.

In recent decades, however, the stadium, which has nurtured several generations of figure skaters including the famous Ája Vrzáňová, slowly deteriorated. The last major renovation of Štvanice occurred in 1968, and the definitive "nail in the coffin" of the famous stadium came from the devastating floods in 2002, from which the wooden structure never recovered.

In January 2011, this beloved recreational spot for Prague residents was closed, and between May and June 2011, this monument-protected stadium was demolished.