Jihlava will apply for a grant for a multipurpose arena from the National Sports Agency

Jihlava – Jihlava will request a grant from the National Sports Agency for the Horácká multifunctional arena. The Jihlava city councilors decided today to submit the application. They also agreed that the city's share in this construction, which costs almost 1.5 billion crowns, will not exceed 600 million. The region is expected to decide on the arena's contribution probably in June. As Governor Vítězslav Schrek (ODS and STO) said today, the parties in the regional coalition have tentatively agreed that they could allocate 450 million crowns from the regional budget.

The city wants to build the arena in the center, replacing the old ice hockey stadium where Dukla plays its home games. The new arena will host not only hockey but also cultural and social events. According to the project documentation for the building permit, the construction costs amount to 1.445 billion crowns excluding tax. The city hall expects to obtain up to 300 million crowns from the National Sports Agency's program. The arena project is ready to be adjusted according to the funds that can be gathered.

"We will definitely return to the city council when we know the total amount we can obtain from co-financing, and we will decide on any adjustments to the project," said David Beke (ODS), the arena's construction manager and Jihlava city councilor. The city would like to start construction of the arena in the second quarter of next year.

The today's proposal to apply for state funding and the commitment to secure the city's own share of the project funding was approved by the Jihlava city council with 32 votes. No one voted against, and two councilors abstained from voting.

In a previous debate, the councilors discussed how much money the city of fifty thousand can allocate for the arena. "The amount proposed, the 600 million, is based on calculations from the economic department, indicating that it is the maximum amount, so as not to exceed the debt brake," said Mayor Karolína Koubová (Fórum Jihlava).

"I sincerely apologize, but I will not be the one who can solve that mathematical task for you at this moment," Schrek, who is also a Jihlava councilor for ODS, said. He stated that the regional council is expected to decide on potential support for the arena on June 15. "Currently, negotiations are underway between the leaders of both coalition and opposition council factions," the governor mentioned.

Jihlava already has a decision on the demolition of the Horácký ice stadium and the zoning decision for the construction of the multifunctional arena. The city has requested a building permit and initiated preliminary market consultations with firms that would be capable of participating in the construction.