Story Summary
Pardubice‘s planned Multifunctional Hockey Arena project has received its final building permit, moving the development into its next phase.
Investor Petr Dědek, the majority owner of Dynamo Pardubice, said the administrative process for the proposed arena had been completed after more than three years from the initial concept and the change to the zoning plan. Groundworks connected to the remediation of a landfill are already under way at the future site, while piling work for the arena is due to begin in December.
The full project is scheduled for completion in autumn 2030. Its central building will be an 11-storey multifunctional arena designed to hold 22,268 spectators for ice hockey and up to 25,000 for concerts. If completed to those plans, it would be presented as the world’s largest hockey arena by capacity.
Key Facts
- Petr Dědek said the building permit for the Multifunctional Hockey Arena Pardubice project is legally final.
- Groundworks linked to landfill remediation are already taking place on the future complex site.
- Piling for the main arena is scheduled to begin in December.
- The project is planned for completion in autumn 2030.
- The main 11-storey arena is planned to hold 22,268 spectators for hockey and up to 25,000 for concerts.
- A second, smaller arena is planned with hockey capacity for 1,700 spectators and concert capacity of up to 3,000.
- The wider development is set to include a hotel, wellness facilities, offices, a fan shop, restaurants, commercial space and a parking structure.
- Dědek said D+D Group has already invested one billion Czech koruna in the project.
IHM Discussion
The final permit is a major administrative milestone for a project whose hockey element is defined by exceptional scale. A proposed 22,268-seat capacity would give Pardubice a venue built for crowds well beyond a conventional domestic league setting, while the smaller adjacent arena would add another dedicated hockey space to the complex.
The development is also designed as more than a match-night building. The hotel, hospitality, retail and commercial elements point to a year-round site, with the main arena intended to switch between hockey and concert configurations. For Dynamo Pardubice, whose majority owner is leading the investment, the project places the club at the centre of a wider urban development rather than a standalone venue replacement.
There remains a lengthy construction timetable. The immediate work concerns site preparation and piling, while the planned opening is in autumn 2030. The source also makes clear that the arena is not part of the current Czech hosting plan for the 2031 championship, despite the proximity of those timelines.
Why It Matters
For Czech hockey, the project carries significance because of its proposed hockey capacity and the scale of the supporting complex. The permit removes a key administrative barrier, allowing the development to move from planning into construction activity.
For Pardubice, it establishes a long-term infrastructure project connected to the city’s leading club ownership. The arena’s eventual value to hockey will depend on delivery of the stated build programme, but the confirmed permit and the start of site work mark a concrete step towards that objective.
Mini Q&A
What has been approved for the Pardubice arena project?
The Multifunctional Hockey Arena Pardubice project has received a legally final building permit.
How large is the planned main hockey arena?
It is planned to hold 22,268 spectators for hockey, with concert capacity of up to 25,000.
When is the project expected to be completed?
Completion of the whole development is planned for autumn 2030.
Will Pardubice host the 2031 championship under the current Czech plan?
No. The current plan names Prague’s O2 Arena and Brno rather than Pardubice.
What Comes Next
The next stated construction checkpoint is the start of piling work in December. The full Multifunctional Hockey Arena Pardubice project is scheduled for completion in autumn 2030.
IHM Final View
Pardubice’s arena plan has moved beyond its principal permitting stage and into visible preparatory work. The proposed complex is ambitious in both hockey capacity and commercial scope, but its defining milestones now lie in construction: piling, the multi-year build and the planned autumn 2030 completion.