The Sparta football club has paid the Czech government an additional CZK 35m for land under and around its football stadium in Letná-Prague 7. Representatives of the club finally acknowledged that they acquired the land from the state in 2002 at a price that was allegedly below the accepted market value. The club had initially paid just CZK 20m for the land.
Daniel Křetínský, who owns Sparta together with J&T Group, now wants to build a shopping and leisure center on a plot between the Blanka tunnel and the football stadium. The project, which would offer 15,000 sqm of retail space, was approved by Prague’s Institute of Planning and Development (IPR). However, the club’s agreement with the finance ministry stands in the way of the development, writes the daily Hospodářské noviny, as Sparta agreed to use the land only for sports-related activities until 2030. The club believes the project could help improve its financial situation after it failed to be nominated into the UEFA Champions League.
