The Czech team of the famous Jaromir Jagr, the Kladno Knights, could soon become homeless, because the municipality has just terminated the lease of the arena where the club plays.
According to what was reported by Czech-language media Sport.cz, the Kladno city council made this decision because Jagr has not paid the rent for the last six months.
• Also read: A 37th professional season for Jagr
The legendary hockey player would have asked for additional time to pay the fees, but he would not have responded to calls from municipal authorities to find an arrangement.
“The current season is in no way threatened,” a city spokesperson told Sport.cz. This will only be in effect after the last match of the championship.
The Knights must annually pay two million Czech crowns (approximately $119,000) to the City, which takes care of the expenses related to its operation and the salaries of the employees who work there.
“We must therefore ask ourselves why Jaromir Jagr is not able to honor the contract and pay two million crowns compared to the approximately 40 million crowns (approximately $2,387,000) that the contract earned him,” he said. for his part declared the current mayor of Kladno, Milan Volf.
“It’s time for him to stop being in charge of ice hockey in Kladno,” added the politician who once wore the colors of the Knights.
Neither Jagr nor any member of the organization wanted to comment on this matter. The terminated lease would have allowed the Knights to remain at CEZ Stadium until 2032. The lease agreement was signed in 2013.
This is far from the first time that Jagr has found himself under the spotlight for wallet problems, his gambling problems having been widely publicized.
When he played for the Washington Capitals (2001-2004), the star player regularly took his private plane to the casinos of Atlantic City, to play between morning practices and games. evening parties. In 2003, he also admitted to having contracted a debt of $950,000 on an online gaming site. That same year, he was sued for more than $3 million in unpaid taxes. There are even rumors that Jagr lost one of his Art Ross trophies while playing cards.
