City of Zurich to provide financial support for planned ice hockey and sports arena
The ZSC Lions club is planning a new ice hockey and sports arena in Zurich-Altstetten with a capacity for 11,600 spectators. The city council wants to support the private project by granting a building lease, a repayable loan of 120 million Swiss francs and an annually recurring operating contribution of 2 million Swiss francs. The municipal support is subject to the approval of the municipal council and the people.
As early as 2009, the city of Zurich and the ZSC Lions had determined the location of the planned ice hockey and sports arena after intensive clarifications. In 2013, the "Theatre of Dreams" project by architects Caruso St. John was chosen as the winner in an architectural competition. The next step was now to clarify the question of financing. The opening of the ice hockey and sports arena is planned for 2022.
The investment costs for the planned ice hockey and sports arena of the ZSC Lions amount to a total of 169 million Swiss francs. Private investors are financing the project with 36 million francs, of which 30 million francs will be used for the construction of the ice hockey and sports arena and 6 million francs for operating funds. Around 19 million francs come from investment contributions from the federal government, the canton and third parties.
The City of Zurich grants the ZSC Lions a building lease for the municipal property in Altstetten for a term of 65 years with an initial building lease interest of CHF 35,000 per year. In addition, ZSC Lions Arena Immobilien AG receives a repayable loan from the City of Zurich in the amount of CHF 120 million with a term of 65 years and interest at cost.
The city's Chief Financial Officer and City Councilor Daniel Leupi has approved the corresponding instruction to grant the building lease, loan and recurring operating contribution for the attention of the municipality. Provided that the municipal council approves the proposal of the city council, a referendum will be held. It is expected that 120 of a total of around 320 allotment gardens in the Vulkan allotment garden area will have to make way for the construction project.
Today Monday and next Thursday (September 24, 2015) the family garden tenants as well as the neighborhood population of Altstetten and Grünau will be informed in detail about the project. (mr)
