Ostrava will present the competition architectural designs of Nové Bazaly

Ostrava - From Wednesday, visitors will be able to view an exhibition of competitive architectural designs for the New Bazaly football stadium in the hall of the city hall of the central urban district of Moravská Ostrava and Přívoz. Nine original works by architects are on display, including a model of the winning design by the studio L35 Arquitectos from Barcelona. The construction of the stadium, which will seat approximately 20,000 spectators, could start in 2029 and be completed two years later. The construction alone is expected to cost around 2.5 billion crowns. This was stated to journalists today by representatives of the city, the football club FC Baník Ostrava, and representatives of the winning studio.

The stadium is to be built on the same site where the first league team Baník Ostrava has operated from 1959 to the 2014/15 season. The new stadium will allow for international matches, including national team games. It will also include a museum of the football club and other services, restaurants, and fan shops. According to Mayor Jan Dohnal (Spolu), the construction is crucial for the city. "We are now at a stage where conditions for further collaboration on the actual design work are being negotiated with the winner," said Dohnal. Design work could start in the first quarter of this year, lasting about a year. "Subsequently, the permitting process and public tender will be initiated," the mayor added.

Thirty applicants entered the international competition, and the jury unanimously agreed on the winning design. "The authors managed to integrate the design into the landscape, respected the industrial heritage of the city, and offered an iconic building that connects functional sporting facilities and maximizes public space. Thus, Ostrava will gain an exceptional complex with a regional significance that we are also building for future generations," noted the mayor. The city anticipates that it will largely finance the construction from its own resources, having received a promise of 250 million crowns from the Moravian-Silesian Region, but is also looking for external financing options, including possible European subsidies. Talks are ongoing with the football club, with which they wish to agree on subsequent financing of operational costs.

"Our proposal strives to create a stadium deeply rooted in the identity of Ostrava, that is, architecture that originates from the place, is true to its industrial past, and simultaneously reimagines the future of the city," said Alejandro Lorca, the architect of the winning studio. The studio has previously designed several stadiums, including the modernization of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where Real Madrid plays.

The chairman of the board of FC Baník Ostrava, Václav Brabec, believes that the construction will become a new landmark of the city. In addition to its architectural design, he particularly appreciated that the stadium is well designed functionally and takes into account the preservation of the current training center.

Bazaly has been the traditional home of Baník. The football players had to move to the City Stadium in Ostrava-Vítkovice because the original no longer met the established conditions. However, the operation of footballers and athletes in a shared facility has repeatedly been described by city management as relatively problematic and unsustainable in capacity. The exhibition will be open until February 15.