The leadership of the Kroměříž town hall today presented a study for a new sports hall

Kroměříž – The leadership of the Kroměříž city hall today presented a study for the planned new sports hall at a working meeting of the representatives. It will be usable for indoor sports and organizing cultural events. It will be built in a way that minimizes operating costs, stated Mayor Tomáš Opatrný (ANO) in today's press release. The estimated costs for building the hall amount to nearly 300 million crowns, while related modifications for communications, parking, and landscaping are expected to cost around 15 million crowns.

Sports clubs have long been calling for the construction of a sports hall in the city. "We conducted a survey among sports organizations, clubs, and associations, and the majority require a new hall, where their requests have been incorporated into the planned project. It is also expected that primary and secondary schools will use the hall. In the survey with schools, it was indicated that they have uses for the hall," said Deputy Mayor Karel Holík (SOCDEM).

The hall will accommodate volleyball, basketball, footvolley, floorball, indoor football, handball, table tennis, badminton, and futsal, and it will also serve gymnastics and dance sports. "Spatially, it is designed so that these sports can be played at the highest level. For example, the necessary ceiling height for volleyball competitions has been considered, as well as the run-off zones required for other sports. Of course, there will be sufficient changing rooms for athletes," added Opatrný.

The building will have a rectangular floor plan with maximum dimensions of approximately 70 by 39 meters, while the playing area will be 45 by 25 meters at its maximum. It is anticipated that the spectator capacity will be approximately 400 and the changing rooms will accommodate 175 athletes. The hall is to be located about 75 meters south of the swimming pool on Obvodová Street.

The city plans to utilize the area between the pool and the sports hall. "In the southern part adjacent to the sports hall, outdoor courts for volleyball, outdoor seating for the hall's snack bar, and green relaxation areas are proposed, while the northern part adjacent to the pool relates to the pool's operation, where it is possible to design an outdoor pool with slides, sunbathing areas, and relaxation spaces," presented his proposal architect Miroslav Pospíšil. The building will be heated by a heat pump, and it will have a photovoltaic power plant on the roof.

The architectural study also includes modifications to transport in the area to ensure smooth traffic. A total of 108 new parking spaces are to be built for the sports hall, around 60 for the pool, and an additional 200 spaces for the nearby football stadium. Four new bus stops will also be created. The city aims to draw on subsidies for the construction of the hall. "Our wish is for the construction of the hall to be realized in 2025 or 2026. It will depend on how successfully the financing of this project can be secured," Opatrný added.

The planned construction of the hall has been criticized by opposition representative Vratislav Krejčíř (Pirates) due to its expense. Instead, he advocates for building a new covered swimming pool. "Kroměříž and all its citizens simply deserve a new pool; unlike the hall, it would serve everyone," stated Krejčíř. The city plans to gradually renovate the deteriorating covered pool. According to Opatrný, the construction of a new covered pool is not within its financial capabilities.

A sports hall designed for indoor sports measuring 40 by 20 meters has long been missing in Kroměříž. It can only be operated at a competitive level in the aging sports hall on Kotojedská Street, which is primarily used for basketball, leaving no space for other sports.