She has a sinister look as dusk falls. Dark thunder clowds give the imposing structure an obscure character. Despite Mother Nature is taking over, all the beauty of this wonderful stadium can be seen. The fence should keep uninvited guests out, but it has already given up the battle. Yet many people will not dare to take a step inside. I am as happy as a child. Within seconds I will set foot inside Za Lužánkami stadium.
Luzanky
I run up the stairs. As you enter from above, the impressive stadium immediately grabs you. A powerful home which has frightened opponents without a doubt. If an empty stadium can already spook you, how does it feel when it is filled with 50.000 passionate people? At that moment I realize it is actually a mortal sin that this stadium isn’t used for football anymore. The reason? Because it doesn’t meet the high demands of the elite. The football association and FIFA disaproved the ground.
Luzanky as the stadium is called by the locals used to be the biggest stadium in Czechoslovakia, to be found in Brno. Build between 1949 and 1953. She had to close her doors in 2001. FC Zbrojovka Brno moved that year to the much smaller Městský Fotbalový Stadion Srbská. Several plans were presented to give Za Lužánkami a second life, but financial problems prevented to execute any of them.
Temporary Resurrection
The importance of Luzanky for the local community showed itself in 2015. As soon as Petr Svancara announced he wanted to play his farewell match in that ground, he immediately received a huge amount of support. The people of Brno started the renovation themselves. Mother Nature was driven out, the stands were repared. A brand new pitch was installed. The dream of Svancara came true. In june 2015 a whopping 25.000 people gave him a proper farewell.
Abandoned Again
De stands are full of vegetation again. At some parts even threes find their way. The red and white crush barriers plus several graffiti colour the place. The goals look a bit lost. Apparantly the clubs’ youth trains here, but it doens’t seem like it looking at the pitch. I feel powerful standing on the pitch already. As a player you should feel invincible looking at the stands packed with your fans.
I walk around and enter the main stand. Originaly the main stand had benches with numbers. Only the elite had seats. Later the complete section got seats, which are almost entirely lost now. I need to climb to be able to enter the second tier. All gates are welded and can’t be opened. All the way at the top you have a view over Brno. Another mighty perspective of the greatness of this stadium.
Darkness falls. I can still spend hours here, but lack of time prevents me of doing so. We need to go. I am happy to have enjoyed Za Lužánkami in her former glory. I hope she will get a second life. She deserves it. Rumours say new plans for a 40 million pound renovation are made. Hopefully the plans will turn into action. We shall see.
