Múlaþing rules out leasing Valaskjálf event hall

Múlaþing municipality has ruled out leasing the Valaskjálf event hall in Egilsstaðir from 701 Hotels ehf, mbl.is reports. The municipality’s council discussed the hall’s future at a meeting on Wednesday.

At a public meeting on Sunday, officials outlined four options: taking no action, leasing the hall from its owners for seven to 10 years at an estimated 29 million Icelandic krónur a year, buying the entire building for 750 million krónur, or buying only the event hall.

The hall’s future has been widely debated. It suffered extensive water damage this summer after a hot-water pipe failed. The hotel’s owners later said they were considering converting the hall into accommodation.

More than 1,100 people have signed a petition calling for the hall to remain available for theatre performances and concerts.

The council did not make a final decision at Wednesday’s meeting, but unanimously approved a statement ruling out the leasing option. The municipal executive committee will continue discussions with the owners about the hall’s future.