Prague is preparing the reconstruction of the large sports hall at the Exhibition Centre

Prague - Prague will repair the large sports hall at the Exhibition Grounds in Prague 7. The reconstruction will concern the ice surface, its cooling system, boards, and also the ceiling of the underground floor located beneath the ice surface. City councillors today decided to announce a contract worth 54.6 million crowns including VAT. The hall is rented from the city by the hockey team Sparta, which uses it for training.

"It’s not just about Sparta, which will play matches during the World Figure Skating Championships at the O2 Arena in 2026, but also about university sports. There are increasing numbers of spectators attending hockey matches between universities. That’s why I’m glad that students will play on a better, safer ice with quality boards that are truly safe,” said Prague's councillor for education Antonín Klecanda (STAN).

According to the justification report, the hall is in a deplorable technical condition. "Given this situation, extensive remediation work, repairs, and modifications are necessary to ensure the required conditions for holding sports and recreational events, also considering safety and hygiene standards,” the document states.

The reconstruction will be divided into several parts. The first phase will involve construction modifications of the ice surface, including the installation of new boards. At the same time, the technologies for cooling the ice surface will be modernized. The new system will be more energy-efficient. The next step is the remediation of the ceiling of the underground floor located beneath the ice surface. The ceiling slab will be reinforced with steel beams. In the final phase, the renewal of the air-conditioning system is planned.

The state of the hall, which opened in 1962, has already been addressed by the city in the past. In 2016, there were even proposals for its demolition. The then city leadership ultimately decided on a complete reconstruction, which the city has not yet carried out. The hockey club HC Sparta Prague used the hall for home matches until 2015.