Za Lužánkami stadium in Brno, once a place of sporting glory, now awaits demolition. The decision to demolish this legendary venue was taken after long years of debate and hesitation. The stadium, which remembers the greatest triumphs of the local team Zbrojovka Brno, was gradually deteriorating and no longer met modern technical and safety requirements.

Decision to demolish

The demolition of Za Lužánkami stadium was long debated and controversial. The city of Brno received the necessary permission as early as 2022, but the realisation of the project was repeatedly postponed due to technical and financial problems. The final decision was made in 2023 and the first demolition work is expected to start in the summer of 2024.

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The demolition of Za Lužánkami stadium is a huge undertaking with many challenges. It is estimated that the costs involved in dismantling the facility could be as high as CZK 190 million. These costs include the complete demolition of the stadium and the development of the site by sloping the ground with the spreading of recycled material after demolition and the preparation of the surface by sowing grass - said Filip Poňuchálek, spokesman for the Municipality of Brno.

© Jörg Pochert

At the moment, however, no action has been taken, and what is being negotiated is how to do this most effectively. We will still decide whether to demolish the whole stadium or demolish it in parts - Deputy Mayor Karin Podivinská said. There is a chance that only part of the legendary stadium will be demolished.

It turns out that the concrete sections of the stadium are an ideal support for the embankment that supports the surrounding buildings, and dismantling the eastern stand would risk danger or even collapse. The possible demolition of only some parts cannot be at the expense of safety, which is the most important thing - Podivinská underlines.

According to estimates, the costs of demolition will not increase and are even likely to fall. My layman's guess is that it could fall somewhere between 50 and 100 million said councillor Jiří Oliva.

© Jörg Pochert

History and significance of stadium

Built in the 1950s, Za Lužánkami stadium was one of the largest and most important sports facilities in Czechoslovakia. At its peak, it could hold more than 50,000 spectators. It was here that Zbrojovka Brno won its only championship title in 1978, and the venue bustled with life during numerous matches, concerts and other events. Construction of the stadium took place between 1949 and 1953.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the stadium was the largest stadium in Czechoslovakia. The venue holds the record for attendance at a Czech First Division football match, set at a game played in the 1996/1997 league between FC Boby Brno and SK Slavia Praha. The stadium was closed in 2001 after FC Brno moved to the Městský fotbalový stadion Srbska.

Reconstruction of the venue to which the Zbrojovka Brno team would return was considered, and a 30,000-seat project was even created in 2008, but in June 2012 it was announced that all plans to rebuild the stadium had been put on hold for financial reasons.

© Jörg Pochert