In Jihlava, the company GEMO will build an arena for 1.9 billion crowns, having submitted the lowest bid.

Jihlava - The Horácká Multifunctional Arena (HMA) in Jihlava will be built by the Olomouc-based company GEMO, which submitted the lowest bid of 1.909 billion crowns excluding VAT in the tender process. Five applicants showed interest in the construction, and the city council approved the contract with the chosen contractor on Thursday. Mayor Petr Ryška (ODS) stated this to reporters today. Participants still have 15 days to appeal. If the construction of the arena can begin at the turn of June and July, it should be completed by September 2025.

The evaluation committee last met this Tuesday. "We reassessed whether all the criteria were met regarding the most advantageous offer," said the mayor. After Thursday's council decision, the city sent the results of the tender to the participants. If there are no appeals, the contract with GEMO could be signed by March 23.

"The voting that took place yesterday (Thursday) in the city council was unanimous. This means that the procedure presented here has the full support of the current city leadership," said Radek Popelka, the mayor's deputy from the ANO movement.

According to the set deadlines, construction work could begin in June or at the turn of June and July, according to Ryška. First, the old stadium will be demolished, where the arena will be built. The company will have 26 months for demolition and new construction.

The city has promised subsidies for the arena amounting to 800 million crowns - half a billion from the region and 300 million from the National Sports Agency (NSA). The remaining costs will be covered by loans and the city’s own funds. "We would like to reduce the city's share, as we have declared several times. We firmly believe that we will succeed in securing some additional resources," stated Ryška.

Among the other applicants for the construction of the arena was a consortium of companies Syner and Geosan Group with a price of 1.988 billion crowns. The consortium HMA - Metrostav DIZ, OHLA ŽS, Podzimek submitted a price offer of 2.083 billion crowns, BAK construction company, a.s., offered to build the Jihlava arena for 2.199 billion crowns and the joint-stock company PKS stavby for 2.242 billion crowns. These are offers excluding VAT.

The offers were received by the municipality last July. The selection process was prolonged because the amounts were higher than Jihlava originally expected. The missing half a billion was decided to be covered by another loan and funds left over from last year’s budget.

GEMO is a significant construction company, with a turnover of around four to five billion crowns, employing hundreds of people, said David Beke (ODS), city councilor and manager of the HMA construction. He added that this company has carried out major construction projects, for example, in Prague and northern Moravia. "The references that we have managed to obtain are overwhelmingly positive," he stated.

The old winter stadium in Jihlava has been closed since last year due to poor roofing, and the hockey team Dukla is playing matches in Pelhřimov and Jindřichův Hradec. The new arena will not only serve hockey and other sports but is also planned to host cultural and social events. The construction will also include accommodation, food services, and an underground parking garage.