Construction Begins on the ARENA BRNO Multifunctional Arena
Construction Begins on the ARENA BRNO Multifunctional Arena
“What had been discussed in Brno for many years finally took clear shape in February 2019, when we decided to build a new, modern, and truly multifunctional arena in the western part of the Brno Exhibition Centre, close to Pavilion Z. The location near the city centre, the straightforward acquisition of the required land, and the excellent transport connections—which we continue to improve—were the key factors behind this decision. The Czech Road and Motorway Directorate, together with the City of Brno, is expanding the Bauerova section of the city ring road, Brno Public Transport Company is continuing construction of the new tram turning loop at Lipová, and preparations are underway for a cable car that will connect the arena with the Bohunice campus, where additional parking capacity will be available,” said Brno Mayor Markéta Vaňková. She added: “I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved in preparing and now delivering the City of Brno’s largest strategic project. Neither the COVID-19 pandemic nor the challenges facing the construction industry have slowed its progress, and I firmly believe that in less than three years not only Brno but the entire region will be welcoming world-class cultural and sporting events.”
“It is encouraging to see Brno thinking on such a grand scale. The multifunctional arena whose construction we are launching today will serve both sporting and cultural events. Connected to the Brno Exhibition Centre, it will significantly expand the city's opportunities and attract visitors who currently have to travel elsewhere for major sports and entertainment events. It is an important step towards raising Brno’s international profile and strengthening its position as a major European city. Projects and strategic investments like this bring the Czech Republic closer to becoming a true crossroads of Europe,” said Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
Together with the City of Brno, the project is being delivered by three municipal companies: ARENA BRNO, Brněnské komunikace, and Teplárny Brno.
The arena itself will be owned by ARENA BRNO, which, following a decision by the City Council in December 2022, will also operate the venue for at least its first several years.
“The contractor is expected to complete the arena within the next 33 months. At the same time, we are preparing the full fit-out of the venue, which will determine its interior facilities. This includes, for example, the food and beverage areas, for which we are preparing a concession process to select the operator. By the end of this year at the latest, we will also finalise the specification of the venue’s stage technology, particularly the sound and lighting systems required for concerts and other cultural events,” explained Petr Kratochvíl, Chairman of the Board of ARENA BRNO.
Brněnské komunikace will become the owner and operator of the seven outdoor parking areas. “We want to ensure that the 1,179 parking spaces are used as efficiently as possible. Several operating modes will therefore be introduced, responding to the arena’s event schedule, trade fair activities at the exhibition centre, and the seasonal operation of the Riviera swimming complex and, in the future, the Anthropos sports and recreation area. The remaining capacity will serve as a Park & Ride facility,” said Luděk Borový, CEO of Brněnské komunikace and Project Manager of the multifunctional arena.
“Teplárny Brno will build the local electricity distribution network, provide combined generation of electricity, heating, and cooling for the arena, and install electric vehicle charging stations in the adjacent parking areas,” added Petr Fajmon, CEO of Teplárny Brno.
The construction contractor is HOCHTIEF CZ, which submitted the winning bid of CZK 4,444,444,444.44 excluding VAT. “This is a highly prestigious project for us. It is not every year that we have the opportunity to deliver a project of nearly CZK 4.5 billion as the main contractor. At present, it is our second-largest construction project after Prague Metro Line D. We are fully aware of both the challenges involved in delivering ARENA BRNO and the importance of this multifunctional venue for the future development of Brno and the South Moravian Region. I am confident that the experience and expertise of our team will ensure the successful completion of this exceptional project, creating a landmark venue that will serve far more than just sport,” said Tomáš Koranda, Chairman of the Board of HOCHTIEF CZ.
The project is financed from several sources. The National Sports Agency will contribute CZK 300 million, the South Moravian Region CZK 200 million, and a loan from Česká spořitelna will cover CZK 1.95 billion. The remaining funding will be provided by the City of Brno. The multifunctional arena, designed to host international cultural, sporting, exhibition, and congress events, is being built near Pavilion Z at the Brno Exhibition Centre. It will accommodate up to 13,300 visitors and support around 30 different event configurations. The building will comprise two underground and six above-ground levels, with a footprint of 16,698 m² and an enclosed volume of 475,000 m³. In addition, the City of Brno will construct approximately 1,300 parking spaces, including 150 located directly within the arena.
Photo: Marie Schmerková
