The reconstruction of the hockey arena in Bratislava is to be inspected by the audit office

A new publication from the Eurostav publishing house focuses on the reconstruction of the Winter Stadium in Bratislava.

Bratislava - The financing of the reconstruction of the Ondrej Nepela Winter Stadium in Bratislava, which hosted the hockey world championship this year, should be examined by the Supreme Audit Office. Today, parliament members requested this, and in May, Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš urged the office to do so. The reason is the more than a quarter increase in costs for the modernization of the arena, which were initially expected to reach nearly 75 million euros (1.8 billion crowns).
      The state contributed 40 million euros to the stadium's reconstruction, where Czech hockey players won bronze medals. The work was also financed by the Bratislava city council, which requested an additional grant from the finance minister after the cost increase. However, he refused the city, but the state lent the missing funds to the city under favorable conditions.
      The construction company Ingsteel justified the increase in costs for the stadium and its surroundings in May by citing additional requirements during the work that were not part of the tender. The price was also reportedly influenced by the use of premium materials. According to Mikloš, however, the construction of hockey arenas in some countries was cheaper than the reconstruction of the stadium in Bratislava.
      The Ondrej Nepela Winter Stadium, where Slovan Bratislava hockey players will play their home games next season, belongs to the city. Initially, there was also consideration of building a new hall for the world championship, but ultimately, also influenced by time constraints, the decision was made to reconstruct the arena, which is located in the wider city center.