In Jihlava, the construction of the arena is going according to plan, the challenge will be installing the unique roof

Jihlava - The construction of the Horácká Multifunctional Arena (HMA) for 1.9 billion crowns in Jihlava is progressing according to schedule. The deviations that occurred in the first year of work are negligible. This was stated today by the construction manager for the city and Jihlava councilor David Beke (ODS). The completion date remains set for September to October 2026, he noted. The builders are now facing the challenging installation of a roof featuring a running track, which will be unique in the Czech Republic. The arena should be under roof by the end of the year.

The steel structure of the arena's roof will be 60 meters long, with work on it starting next month. "It is the only roof of this type that has a running oval on it. The shape is somewhat inspired by foreign designs; such a roof does not yet exist in the Czech Republic," said Petr Kráčmar, construction manager for GEMO, the company carrying out the project for the city.

Construction of the arena began a year ago with the demolition of the old ice rink, where a new multipurpose complex is rising. "We can say that we have three-quarters of the load-bearing structure of the building completed," stated Kráčmar. The priority now will be to install the roof and close off the area by the end of the year to prevent rain from coming in. There are now seven cranes on the construction site.

Due to the construction in the center, workers must cope with limited space. "We are constantly addressing material transfers, coordination of individual subcontractors, and material deliveries," Kráčmar said. One side of the construction site is bordered by Jiráskova Street, which is one of the main traffic routes in the city, while across from the construction site on Tolstého Street is the Polytechnic School.

Out of the total 1.9 billion crowns for the construction of the HMA, approximately 380 million has been invested so far, Beke reported. "The construction is broadly proceeding according to the plan, both in terms of the timeline and financial volumes," he stated. The city is already selecting suppliers for audiovisual technology, catering equipment, snow groomers, and handling vehicles. The total costs for the equipment are expected to be within 200 million crowns, according to the city's estimates.

The arena will not only serve the Dukla hockey club; other sports events and social gatherings will also take place there. Hockey matches will be able to accommodate 5,750 spectators, while cultural events could host up to 7,500. In the corner building being constructed with the arena, in addition to a shop and a pub, there will be accommodation for 60 beds, a gym, and a sports hall. It will be possible to walk through the new complex to the neighboring Smetanovy Sady parks.

"Negotiations are ongoing with associations like floorball, volleyball, and basketball about which national team or Czech cup competitions could take place here," said Martin Lindovský, the managing director of the commercial company established by the city, which will operate the HMA. He also plans to include a cultural program.

The arena is being built by the city with the help of subsidies. The Vysočina region has promised to contribute half a billion crowns, and the National Sports Agency will add another 300 million.