For decades, Zbrojovka fans dreamed of a modern stadium that would worthily replace the decaying ground behind Lužánky. Now, with billionaire Vojtěch Kačena becoming the club’s majority owner, football in Brno is once again filled with hope.

New owner, new ambitions

On July 19, Zbrojovka Brno officially announced that the majority shareholder of the club had become Vojtěch Kačena – a billionaire and head of the Second Foundation group, active in energy markets in Europe, the USA, and Japan. The previous owner, OneCap, retained 20% of the shares.

Kačena had been supporting the team fighting for promotion to the top league for months, but now he has taken a decisive step. Football has always been associated with strong emotions for me and as a way of connecting people throughout the community. Joining Zbrojovka was a natural choice for me – thanks to its long history and strong fan base, I see enormous potential in it. My first partial goal is to build the best children’s academy in Brno, he declared.

Even more important, however, was another promise. The new owner declared that he would finance the construction of the stadium entirely from his own resources – without subsidies or public money.

Potential look of Zbrojovka’s new stadium

Where to build a new arena?

For years, the city had pointed to the exhibition grounds, where the velodrome now stands. A football stadium was to be built there, and the new cycling track planned to move near the former stadium za Lužánkami. However, such a location would mean that Zbrojovka might have to wait up to five years before construction could even begin.

That is why other options are increasingly being mentioned: the Technology Park in Královo Pole, the sandpit in Černovice, fields in Komárov, or areas in Líšeň. All these places share good transport connections – from trams to highways. We are now choosing the location, we want to buy the land commercially, and once we acquire it, we will start designing. The construction will be divided into several stages, but we want to act quickly. I expect greater support from the city in terms of permits and cooperation, said Kačena.

Experts, however, are divided in their opinions. Architect Petr Hrůša warns that the stadium should not be pushed to the outskirts: People should not be forced to go somewhere else. Brno has the huge advantage that everything can be concentrated in the center, so life continues. Football as entertainment and sport should remain part of the city. On the other hand, Jaroslav Sedlák from the Polytechnic points out that modern stadiums in Europe are often built outside the very center and are frequently combined with shopping complexes.

Lužánky – the fans’ dream

Many fans and some investors would like to return to the iconic site za Lužánkami. It was there that Zbrojovka celebrated its only championship, and in 1996 set the Czech league attendance record – 44,120 spectators.

We now essentially have a greater chance of restoring the former glory of Brno football and bringing 40,000 people back to, hopefully, a renovated stadium behind Lužánky, says Jaroslav Havel from OneCap.

Club legend Karel Jarůšek is also certain: This is a clear challenge from Mr. Kačena. He said he doesn’t want anything from the city, he will pay for the land and the new stadium himself. I’m waiting for some sensible response from the city, because this is an extremely lucrative offer that affects all of Brno’s sport, and for me, nostalgically, Lužánky.

City Hall, however, is more cautious. Sports councilor Tomáš Aberl emphasizes: For me, the exhibition center is still the most advantageous location, I consider Lužánky the least likely option. The city is preparing an architectural competition there and does not want to block the development of the area.

© Jörg Pochert | Za Lužánkami

City has final say

Although Kačena declares he will finance the stadium privately, the decision on the sale of the plots still rests with the city. Meanwhile, the land behind Lužánky is additionally entangled in long-running legal disputes.

Fans do not hide their frustration. Pressure is mounting on social media to demand a mass return to the historic site. A poll on the Football Stadium behind Lužánky in Brno page showed that more than half of fans believe this scenario is realistic.

It would be a miracle, but I don’t know if miracles happen, because Lužánky is some kind of enchanted place. Along with all the fans, I still hope that the responsible people will realize what Lužánky means for Brno and will reconsider their original stance, says former goalkeeper Radek Rabušic.

Two clubs, two billion-crown projects

The situation is complicated by the fact that Brno also has another ambitious club – Artis, owned by billionaire Igor Fait. We have not yet discussed any cooperation or plans with Mr. Kačena, nor have we met him yet, notes Petr Kuba from Artis.

In the meantime, the city is preparing the modernization of Municipal Stadium on Srbská Street so that it obtains a license to play in the first league. Both clubs will therefore have to share it for years to come. The construction of a large municipal stadium, which the residents of Brno deserve, should be the task of the city. Our priority is infrastructure for the youth academy, adds Kuba.

Football future of Brno

One thing is certain: with Kačena’s arrival, Zbrojovka has become one of the richest clubs in the Czech Republic. Financial support from Vojtěch Kača ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of crowns makes Zbrojovka one of the richest clubs in the country, probably just behind Sparta Prague, reveals Jaroslav Havel.

Just a few months ago, the team was threatened with relegation to the third league; today people are talking about fighting for European cups. If Zbrojovka and Artis fulfill their ambitions, the city may see derbies worthy of the capital’s rivalries. Such Brno derbies in the first league have never happened. That would put us on par with Prague, concludes Jarůšek.