In recent years, Sport Holding Prague has invested a million Czech crowns in repairs and upgrades to Tipsport Arena, but the building is in need of a major investment in the coming years that will bring the entire building up to the current needs of a multi-purpose arena, especially for hockey. For the club and the owner of this renovation makes no economic sense.
“Therefore, although we hadn´t previously considered any options that included moving outside Holešovice, after the company Bestsport presented us with this interesting offer, we changed our minds. The excellent organization of the 2015 Ice Hockey World Championship was also a factor in our decision,” explained Petr Speychal, Chairman of Sport Holding Prague.
“From both sides it is a concluding of a long-term strategic partnership in terms of the O2 arena gets a quality sports team for their program, Sparta increases comfort for its fans and, thanks to Bestsport, is also ensured long-term economic stability,” says Petr Bříza, Chairman of HC Sparta Prague.
O2 Arena CEO Robert Schaffer also confirms this beneficial partnership: “After the end of last season, we considered whether we should replace hockey with concerts and other cultural events. However, the Ice Hockey World Championship proved that hockey belongs in our arena, so I´m glad that we were able to come to a mutually acceptable solution with Sparta. I am convinced that this will benefit the business partners of O2 Arena as well as the fans and the sponsors of Sparta, of course.”
Although Sparta´s home games are moving, the club headquarters and training facilities for the "A" team, as well as more than 250 players on the club´s youth teams remain at Tipsport Arena. Fans needn´t worry about Sparta not having a proper home atmosphere inside O2 Arena. “The interior and the exterior of O2 arena are getting a Spartan touch so that fans and players will feel at home here. For our partners, we plan to create a ´Sparta business lounge´, owners of season tickets in the ´300 Club´ will have a chance to join the ´Sparta Club´. Fans can look forward the premiere on 28 August, when as part of the Champions Hockey League Sparta will welcome Norwegian club Storhamar Hamar,” announced Jan Kryšpín, Marketing Director of SHP.
