“The first weeks were difficult, but that’s to be expected when a new arena is opening somewhere. It has to settle down first, it’s a big colossus,” Martin Lindovský, executive director of the municipal company Horácká multifunktionalí aréna, who was given the task of moving Jihlava’s “building of the century” into motion, told Novinkám.
The 41-year-old manager from Ostrava, who has worked for the Dolní Vítkovice complex for many years, and his team are getting used to all the news, just like individual tenants. “The arena was not handed over in a completely 100% condition and is not finished in all details, which makes it all the more difficult to get your bearings,” he reminded. The new building is currently in trial operation.
The Gemo company built the arena according to the design of the architectural studio Chybik + Kristof on the site of the demolished Horácký winter stadium. She handed it over to the city, which is an investor, on October 22. Three days later, the first hockey game was played.
“It’s a daily struggle with details, it concerns, for example, air conditioning, the access system or lighting, some flies still appear,” mentioned Lindovský. His team, on the other hand, is made more comfortable by the public’s reaction to the start of the arena. “In general, there are positive responses to how the arena looks and how it serves the audience, that’s energy for further work,” he emphasized.
Hokejová Dukla, as the main tenant, should occupy about sixty percent of the hall. It is not only the city that expects more from the multi-purpose building. In the first half of next year, fans of several sports will find their way. International tennis, basketball, hockey and volleyball will head to Jihlava. According to the head of the arena, “we can only look forward to it”.
The first big event will be the Davis Cup on February 7 and 8, in which the Czech tennis players will play against Sweden. “January and February are generally dead periods, so we will clear up the stagnant waters with this prestigious event,” stated the head of the arena.
Photo: Jiří Bárta, Novinky
The head of the Horácká Arena, Martin Lindovský
On March 1st, the Czech basketball players will play in a super-modern booth full of technology in the qualification for the 2027 World Cup against Slovenia. The best invitation is that the Czechs, under the leadership of new coach Luboš Bartona, have won both matches so far against Sweden and Estonia.
The fact that the region in the middle of the republic will be able to host international events was preceded by hard work. “We actively communicated with the associations of the most watched sports and the biggest promoters. Specifically, the tennis association contacted us on its own, probably based on the effect of butterfly wings,” the executive reminded that the new arena, the first of its kind, similar to the one in Třinec that was opened in 2014, is now attracting a lot of interest.
National team hockey and volleyball
The national hockey team will also test the new arena in a preparatory duel with Austria, specifically on April 24. In June, the Golden European Volleyball League will be played in Jihlava, which is experiencing a big boom after the fourth place at the World Cup.
Concerts are gradually starting to increase as well. The first, if we don’t count the ceremonial opening with Ewa Farna, will be Michal David’s performance on December 18. It will be busy next fall. After the musical Children of Paradise 2 (October 3), the most popular Czech band Kabát will arrive (October 6) and a few days later the singer Lucie Bílá (October 10). The Lord of the Dance dance show (November 18) is also a big attraction.
“We are discussing both other Czech performers and one world star, apparently for the holidays. I can’t say the name yet, it’s not certain,” mentioned Lindovský. In such cases, the arena operator communicates with the Czech representation of the largest promoter agencies.
Horace Arena openingVideo: Jiří Bárta, News
Just enough capacity
Some spectators and fans would be happy if the arena had a larger capacity than the roughly 5,600 spectators for hockey and two thousand more for concerts, but the operator, together with the size, considers the location in the middle of the country to be a big advantage.
“The promoter prefers if the arena is full and some people stay behind the door than if they don’t fill the larger hall,” pointed out Lindovský. “It is still too early to assess the potential of Jihlava in terms of purchasing power and the exhaustion of cultural and sports events, that will only become clear after a year of operation. For me, a better option is a compact and quite correctly chosen arena capacity.”
According to the words of an experienced manager, promoters make decisions based on what they are able to sell out. Horácká arena wants to find its own confident place with “just enough” capacity, it also bets on a family atmosphere.
The great interest in the arena is also confirmed by guided tours organized by construction manager David Beke already in the building under construction. They continue even after opening, but are sold out by the end of the year. The operator organizes special tours for donors who have adopted a piece of the facade.
The organizers are now looking for a date for the second open day. About two and a half thousand people came to the first one.
