The cycling and athletics hall in Brno will be part of the National Sports Centre

Brno - A hall for track cycling and athletics, which is set to be built in Brno in the coming years, will be part of the network of National Sports Centers along with adjacent swimming pools. The city leadership expects better opportunities for drawing grants as a result of the decision by the National Sports Agency. At the same time, this could increase the attractiveness of the city in the area of sports. City councillor Tomáš Aberl (TOP 09) said this to reporters. The preparation for the construction, estimated at approximately 1.5 billion crowns, is currently in the phase of seeking a contractor for the project documentation. The city council approved the commencement of the negotiation procedure without publication on Wednesday.

By linking the hall with the swimming complex and other services for athletes, Brno will gain, according to Aberl, a first-class facility that will provide top athletes from across the country with perfect conditions for training and competitions. "Currently, there are only seven National Sports Centers in the Czech Republic. The eighth will be created, which will be unique not only in Brno but also in our entire region. This significantly enhances its significance. Given the distribution of support for sports from the state, it ensures a truly fundamental advancement for the city and the South Moravian Region," he stated.

The announced public contract includes the preparation of project documentation for the multifunctional hall, including the adjacent area. The design of the sports facility is to be based on the winning proposal that succeeded in an architectural competition earlier this year. The city expects that the documentation will cost no more than 55.5 million crowns excluding VAT and will be completed at the turn of 2026 and 2027.

The hall, with a capacity of 1,211 spectators, will consist of two above-ground floors and one underground floor. The main sports venue will be located at the ground level. There will also be offices for building management and spaces for the regeneration and accommodation needs of athletes.

Cyclists from the TJ Favorit club, which currently operates at its velodrome near the exhibition center, are set to find a new home there. The city wants to buy the velodrome and build a football stadium in its place in the future. However, the cyclists have not yet agreed with the city leadership on the conditions under which they would use the hall. Some cyclists, nevertheless, wish for new facilities, considering that suitable capacities for Czech cycling are lacking. Others emphasize that the velodrome still hosts international competitions. They argue that it is their own property.

"Favorit has sent us its requests, and we are currently analyzing them and will respond. If we cannot reach an agreement with the club, it will be a significant problem," Aberl said. When asked whether the hall would still be built even if the cyclists do not move there, he replied that the city is considering multiple options.