The tennis federation wants to open the area at Štvanice to the public; there will be a concert there

Prague – The Czech Tennis Association (ČTS) plans to open the national tennis center in Prague’s Štvanice to the public. Currently, it is renovating the social facilities of the central tennis court for about five million crowns and plans to invest in its reconstruction and potentially a roof in the future. The first public event will be a concert by Janek Ledecký with the Hradec Králové Philharmonic in June. Representatives of the association announced this to journalists today.

Chairman Jakub Kotrba stated that the goal of the association is to bring world tennis back to Štvanice and to make it a space for cultural events as well. In addition to Ledecký's concert on June 22, the association plans two to three more events this year to gauge public interest. Food stalls and seating are also expected to be added to the promenade.

"In the following seasons, we would then move to the second phase, which will probably include some major renovation of the stadium," Kotrba added. For this, the association will need to secure funding, which it intends to discuss with the Prague city council or the National Sports Agency (NSA). The long-term plan is for a roof, but according to the chairman, that is a project for the distant future. "That is really music of the future," he said. Association representatives previously stated that they want to build a tennis hall of fame at Štvanice.

The current renovation of the social facilities and other minor repairs are financed by the association itself. Due to the funding scandals involving former chairman Ivo Kaderka and other officials, the association recently faced financial difficulties, but according to Kotrba, the situation is now stabilized. "There is never enough money, of course, but at this moment the association is stable thanks to the processes we have managed to set up and the money we receive from the NSA for clearly defined and predetermined goals," he said. He added that a fine still looms over the organization, but with that awareness, the tennis association's leadership decided to proceed with the investment.

Prague has a study for the overall transformation of Štvanice, which, according to representatives of the association and the city, should correspond to the adjustments of the tennis area. Co-author of the study, architect Radek Kovařík from the RKAW office, stated that the repair and opening of the area could assist in further adjustments to other parts of the island, whether it relates to improving paths, public spaces, greenery, or access to the Vltava River. The city mayor, Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS), supported the association’s plan at today’s press conference.