The City Hall of Ia\u0219i, in eastern Romania, launched a public tender for the construction of the Regina Maria Multipurpose Arena, a major sports complex planned in the Moara de V\u00e2nt area. The contract is valued at RON 596.35 million, including VAT, or approximately EUR 113 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cIa\u0219i City Hall is looking for a builder for the Multipurpose Arena,\u201d the municipality announced on Facebook.<\/p>\n
Construction companies can submit bids until October 26, while the maximum completion period is 48 months. The city said it would initially finance the works from its local budget and later transfer the project to the National Investment Company (CNI) for co-financing from the state budget.<\/p>\n
The Ia\u0219i Local Council approved an increase in the municipality\u2019s contribution from 20% to 25% of the project\u2019s value in April 2026. The project\u2019s updated overall estimate, which also includes costs beyond the construction tender, stands at approximately RON 680.1 million.<\/p>\n
The main arena will have a maximum capacity of 9,623 people and a 60-by-30-metre playing area suitable for handball, basketball, volleyball, and other sports. Together with the adjoining training hall, the complex will be able to accommodate up to 9,733 people.<\/p>\n
The building will cover 12,926 sqm, with a total developed area of more than 39,000 sqm and a maximum height of 29 metres. Plans also include commercial and public-service spaces, first-aid points, cloakrooms, outdoor terraces, and a separate 1,833 sqm training hall with capacity for 110 people.<\/p>\n
The almost eight-hectare site, located near the future regional emergency hospital, will also include outdoor sports grounds, pedestrian paths, and approximately 59,250 sqm of green space. A total of 1,115 parking spaces are planned, including 960 underground.<\/p>\n
The building\u2019s exterior design is inspired by the crown of Queen Marie of Romania, according to the municipality.<\/p>\n
Planning for the arena began in 2019, and the building permit was signed in June 2023. CNI took over the investment in September 2024 and subsequently launched a construction tender, but that procedure was cancelled.<\/p>\n
The project was included among the public investments the government planned to finance through the 2026 state budget. Interim development minister Cseke Attila said during a September 9 visit to Ia\u0219i that the arena remained under government consideration but that national funding still had to be identified and secured.<\/p>\n