The winter stadium in Nový Jičín was officially inspected 13 years after the completion of the extension

Nový Jičín – The winter arena in Nový Jičín has been re-approved after 13 years since the completion of its expansion. Since 2008, it operated only under a temporary use permit due to non-compliance with fire safety regulations. The city, which owns the arena, rectified this issue last year with a costly reconstruction. This was announced today by the spokesperson of the Nový Jičín municipality, Marie Machková.

During the reconstruction, the building received a new roof, which includes automated ventilation, new sound systems, a dehumidifier, lighting, and display technology with a new fire safety solution. "It was the most expensive investment project of last year. We paid more than 55 million crowns for the work, with 25 million covered by a grant," said Nový Jičín's deputy mayor Václav Dobrozemský (ODS).

According to him, the city had to implement the mentioned measures to avoid having the arena operate at a limited capacity. "Due to previously unmet conditions arising from the building permit from 2006 for modifications to the winter arena, the fire department reduced the maximum number of people in the building to 250 in January 2019. As a result of last year's reconstruction, the current maximum capacity of the facility according to the fire safety solution is 1,739 people," Dobrozemský stated.

The reconstruction of the arena was completed already in December, but the building office could issue the occupancy permit only now. "We had to conduct noise measurements from the overall operation of the building in line with the conclusions of the noise study. And that was not possible at a time when the sports facilities were closed due to COVID," said Blanka Zagorská, head of the municipal housing department.

The winter arena in Nový Jičín started operating in 1973 as an outdoor ice rink. In 1980, the facility was roofed. Between 2001-02, the first phase of the building's reconstruction took place, during which new facilities for players and restrooms were built.

"From 2006 to 2008, further construction interventions were made to the building. The expansion with shops and a restaurant was completed, but the measures required by the fire department were not implemented, and since then the facility has operated based on a decision for temporary use," Machková added.