<Jihlava waits for a decision on whether it will receive a subsidy for a new arena from the state as well.>

Jihlava – Jihlava wants to have the documentation ready for the selection of a contractor for a new multipurpose arena by the turn of January and February next year, so it can start selecting the supplier for the contract in the competition. The half-billion subsidy for the arena, with estimated costs around 1.4 billion crowns, has already been promised to Jihlava by the region this year. The regional city is still waiting for the result of the application for a grant from the National Sports Agency. David Beke, a councilor for the ODS and the manager of the arena's construction, told journalists today.

"We have repeatedly asked the National Sports Agency when it expects to share the results of the evaluation of grants for supra-regional projects," Beke said. He indicated that the city received information that the agency is postponing the deadline to the end of this year and has not completely ruled out another delay. He noted that the amount for the city from the agency could vary, with a maximum of 300 million crowns.

The city wants to build the new arena in place of the Horácký Ice Stadium. It is still considering whether the same contractors who will build the arena should carry out the demolition of the old stadium, or if there will be a separate tender for the demolition of the stadium. The stadium and the hockey club Dukla, which plays its home matches there, belong to the city. The councilor stated that the city has been trying to reduce the project's costs through various adjustments, considering the rising prices in the construction market.

The hockey club will end its activities at the stadium on April 30 next year. A big farewell event is planned for that date. "I am already contacting former Dukla legends," said the executive of HC Dukla, Bedřich Ščerban.

The Horácký Ice Stadium was built in 1955 as an open-air rink and has been covered since 1968. The new multipurpose arena should enable not only hockey and other sports matches but also the organization of cultural events. The city is expected to allocate 600 million for the arena's construction.

Councilor Beke, along with the executive of the hockey club, informed journalists today about their trip to the Finnish city of Tampere, where a similar multipurpose arena has just been opened. Beke stated that there, too, the arena is in the center, with parking spaces within a five to ten-minute walking distance. According to him, the Finns did not consider building it outside the city. Previously, there were discussions at Jihlava City Hall about the possibility of building the arena on the outskirts of Jihlava.