Brno did not decide today on the sale of land near Lužánky for the new football stadium

Brno – Brno city councilors today did not decide on the sale of the land behind Lužánky. They will vote on it only after processing a revised expert opinion and securing additional materials. The land, on which a dilapidated football stadium stands, is of interest to the football club Zbrojovka Brno. It emerged as the only interested party from the concession proceedings and wants to build a new stadium in place of the old one.

The voting was preceded by a long debate primarily about the differing land prices arising from the expert opinions of Zbrojovka and the city. The price deviation could ultimately jeopardize the validity of the contract.

The councilors will decide on the sale immediately after they gather all the necessary materials, including a revised expert opinion that will verify the accuracy of both previous expert opinions.

The expert report commissioned by the city estimated the value of the land at over 400 million crowns, including 202 million for demolishing the old stadium. The expert opinion for Zbrojovka valued the land at 167.7 million crowns. Since the offer would be negative after accounting for demolition costs, the club ultimately offered 207 million crowns for the land. Thus, after deducting the demolition costs, which should be covered by the concessionaire, Brno would receive five million for the land.

However, a legal analysis commissioned by the city stated that the offered amount significantly deviates from the usual price set by the expert opinion ordered by Brno. According to the analysis, the deviation represents a risk that the sale could be assessed as providing public support.

Brno's mayor Markéta Vaňková (ODS) supported the planned construction of the new stadium. "At the same time, we must respect the law, and given the legal assessment that has been presented, we do not see a realistic possibility in this matter as originally proposed, with the threat of absolute invalidity of the contract, which would complicate further proceedings," said the mayor.

At the beginning of the meeting, the mayor even proposed to completely withdraw the item from the agenda. In the first vote, the proposal succeeded, but her deputy Filip Chvátal (KDU-ČSL) questioned the vote. In the repeated vote, the item could not be withdrawn from the agenda.

The owner of the football club Zbrojovka, Vojtěch Kačena, is considering building a stadium in Brno for three billion crowns. He is thinking about a capacity of 30 to 35 thousand spectators, said the 47-year-old entrepreneur in an extensive interview with Hospodářské noviny. Zbrojovka confidently won the second league and is returning to the top competition after three years.

He would prefer to see the new arena at the traditional location. "I understand that it is a complex issue, but Lužánky works out best for me, where the legendary Zbrojovka stadium once stood and where there were large attendances," Kačena stated.