Work continues in Prešov on the construction of Futbal Tatran Aréna (FTA). Despite the progressive construction, the city is trying to find ways to reduce costs, which have increased by €1.5 million. Work is due to be completed by February 2025 in order to have the stadium ready for the European Under-21 Championships.

Delayed construction…

Prešov venue was inaugurated in 1899, making it the oldest stadium in the country. In 2017, plans emerged to build a new arena, with construction planned over the next two years. I admit that it didn't get done. Of course, there were a number of other factors that overlapped, whether it was COVID-19, the crisis, expensive materials and all that went along with it - said president of the Prešov Region Milan Majerský in an interview with Šport.sk.

The Olympic Games have just started, but they will not interest as many football fans as the Euros. League games in Slovakia are about to begin, but you will have to wait a little longer for the most awaited ones. For those looking for online entertainment, we recommend sport betting, which offers the best odds and simple payments.

However, the investment started in July 2023. Futbal Tatran Aréna (FTA) is currently being built on the site of the old facility. With a capacity of 6,500, the stadium is expected to meet UEFA's third category criteria. It is also intended to be one of the venues to host the U-21 European Championships in 2025. The only risk at this point is possible delays in the construction of the stadium, because if the FTA wants to be the arena for the youth championships, the entire investment must be completed by February 2025.

© mesto Prešov

...which is getting more expensive

Unfortunately, it is already clear at this point that the construction cost itself will increase. And it will not be small money, as the increase is estimated at €1.5 million. During the construction work, a mixture of slag and earth was encountered, which forced additional demolition work. The city is now seeking to recover some of the costs through the courts from the contractor, who they claim failed to carry out the relevant work paid for by the previous authorities.

In addition, it turns out that the design documentation had many errors. The poor quality of the design documentation led to the need to completely replace the subsoil under the car park on Čapajevova Street. The city decided on a costly but long-term economic investment in LED lighting, which has a longer lifespan, lower energy consumption and lower maintenance costs. The return on this investment is expected to be within ten years, all told by Presov city spokesman Michal Hudák.

Despite the challenges, Prešov is trying to control costs and manage the project effectively. Finishing work is underway and the city expects technical acceptance to begin in autumn and be completed next spring.

© mesto Prešov