In Teplice, the construction of a hockey hall for 230 million has begun

Teplice - The construction of a new ice rink started today in Teplice. It will cost nearly 230 million crowns and is expected to be completed in 16 months. The city is financing the hall from its own budget, said Mayor Jaroslav Kubera (ODS) to ČTK. The spa town of fifty thousand is now the only comparably sized city in northern Bohemia without an indoor ice surface.

The stadium will not have the specifications for the extraliga or major concerts, but according to the rules of the hockey association, youth matches can be held there. It will have seating for approximately 460 spectators. According to Kubera, the city's main goal is to support youth. "This is a long-term city strategy. We belong to the cities that invest really large sums of money into youth sports. Currently, it amounts to around eight thousand crowns per athlete. We believe that there is no need to force people into what they should do, but we need to support them. For example, so that children are not just on tablets or laptops, but engage in sports activities that do not necessarily lead to professional sports," said Kubera.

According to the project, the price was supposed to be lower; the limit for the public contract was 188 million crowns. However, none of the four bidders fell within this amount. The lowest bid was submitted by Syner, at 229 million. The representatives increased the budget, and the company ultimately won the contract. Preparatory work for the construction will start this week. The building should be completed by December 2018, after which a month-long trial operation is planned.

Teplice will finance the new hall from its own funds. There were no suitable grants available for it. "We would consider a grant; we definitely would not refuse it, especially a Czech one. Unfortunately, nobody offered any grants for that," added Kubera. The hall will include, among other things, ten changing rooms for young athletes, and nearly 200 parking spaces will be created near the hall.

Teplice can afford to invest more than planned; the spa town has reserves amounting to hundreds of millions of crowns in its accounts. This week, they also plan to start the renovation of the aquacenter for another more than 200 million.