The new Bazaly stadium will be according to the design of the Barcelona studio L35 Arquitectos

Ostrava – A new football stadium, Bazaly, will be built in Ostrava according to the architectural design by the urban planning, architectural, and design studio L35 Arquitectos from Barcelona. The winning design differed from other projects in the competition in its shape, façade solutions, material conception, and appropriateness of processing. Mayor Jan Dohnal (Together) said this today to ČTK. The winning design will be refined, and it will be necessary to obtain the required permits. The construction of the stadium for up to 20,000 seated spectators could begin in 2029. The estimated cost is around 2.5 billion crowns.

"We unanimously selected the winning design. It reflects the fundamental points that were essential for the city. The elegant architectural solution offers a simple, compact form. It respects the strong message of the site and is appropriately situated in the landscape. It aspires to become a new landmark in Ostrava, offering facilities for both football and the general public," said Dohnal.

He stated that the winning design was conceived in a studio with nearly sixty years of history, which has completed over 200 buildings on four continents. Its team consists of more than 200 experts. "Among its realizations are, for example, the renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and stadium projects in La Paz and Dubai,” Dohnal said.

In addition to Barcelona, the studio has offices in Madrid, Paris, Milan, Miami, Mexico City, Bogotá, Santiago, Istanbul, and Abu Dhabi. It has worked on a wide range of projects, from train stations and shopping centers to the revitalization of urban districts and stadiums.

The construction will take place on the same site where the top-tier Baník Ostrava operated from 1959 until the 2014/15 season. The new stadium, which will allow for international matches, including national team games, is expected to be certified according to the BREEAM (Building Sustainability) standard. It will include a museum for the football club along with other amenities, restaurants, and fan shops.

"Quality architecture is key for Ostrava, which is why the winning design for the new stadium emerged from an architectural competition. Our architects and experts from various corners of the world wanted to design New Bazaly for Ostrava; a total of 30 applicants applied," Dohnal stated. The jury that selected the winning design included renowned architects, as well as representatives from the city and Baník. Experts from other fields were also invited.

"The result is a design for an iconic building close to the city center, almost adjacent to the national cultural monument of the New Town Hall, which will become a tourist destination and a popular spot for the city’s residents. We are also preparing an exhibition of the competition entries, which the public can look forward to in January next year,” Dohnal added.

Bazaly has been the traditional home of Baník, and the new stadium aims to allow a return to a place historically connected with the football club. The footballers had to move to the City Stadium in Ostrava-Vítkovice because the original no longer met the established conditions. The functioning of footballers and athletes in a shared facility has been repeatedly deemed by city management as quite problematic and unsustainable in terms of capacity. Additionally, the City Stadium is planned for further development in athletics in the future.