Gascontrol Aréna

The Gascontrol Aréna in Havířov carries the memory of its previous name, the K&K PNEU Aréna. The building itself is a reminder of another time. The roof slopes down in a way that locals have long since nicknamed "the Barn." It is not a modern structure built for spectacle; it is a functional hall that has seen the city through changes in its ownership and its league standings.

The arena opened in 1968, and while the years have brought new sponsors, the core of the building remains the same. It sits at the intersection of Těšínská and Hálkova, a location that has anchored the local sports scene for over half a century. Inside, the surface is ice, maintained to host the HC Havířov Panthers. The team plays here, and the crowd gathers here, though the numbers today—5,100 seats—are far fewer than the crowds that once packed the standing areas in the 1990s.

What sets this ground apart is not its architecture, but the variety of events it has held. Beyond the hockey matches, the hall hosted the EuroBasket 1981 and the 1978 European Weightlifting Championships. It has been a venue for concerts as well, hosting acts like Elton John and Scooter in the early 2000s. The outside of the building bears the crest of the city of Havířov. It is a place where the history of Czech ice hockey is kept, not in a museum, but in the rafters and the concrete.