Stadion MOSiR Krosno – construction description

How did the expansion of MOSiR stadium in Krosno come about?

In 2018, the speedway club KSM Krosno ceased its activities. At the same time, a new team called Wilki (Wolves) Krosno was formed in its place. The officials of the new club have set ambitious goals for themselves, including organizing the club's activities in a professional manner, promotion to the Ekstraliga in a few years' perspective or bringing about the modernization of the stadium.

However, the modernization of MOSiR stadium, which is also used by Karpaty Krosno footballers, was mainly the responsibility of the city, which was the only one able to bear the considerable investment costs. Following Wilki's promotion to the first division in 2020, in the first half of 2021 the city, at a cost of around PLN 6 million, installed floodlight masts and additional spectator seats in the stadium.

When was the contractor for the expansion of MOSiR stadium in Krosno selected?

In 2021, a project was drawn up to extend the facility with a new stand on the southern curve. It was to accommodate 2,253 spectators and be equipped with a canopy that would also act as an acoustic screen. A tender was announced in December 2021, but the bids received by the magistrate (the lowest at PLN 19 million) exceeded the city's financial capabilities and the contractor was not selected.

It was therefore decided to reduce the scope of the tasks, abandoning the roofing of the stand, as well as the lift, the electronic service system or the installation of a sound system. The surface area of the planned car parks was reduced and the capacity of the new stand was slightly reduced (to 2,200 spectators).

Another tender was announced in February 2022, and in March the contractor was selected, which was the Krosno-based company AGZ (the same company had previously installed lighting masts at the stadium). The value of the signed contract is PLN 12.669 million. As part of a separate task, for PLN 1.6 million, a power connection was also to be made to the floodlights, which have so far been powered from power generators.

The investment is being carried out in the design and build system, and the contractor, before starting the construction of the stand, had the task of making a new design, taking into account changes dictated by savings.

What will the new stand at MOSiR stadium in Krosno be like?

The new stand on the southern curve is designed as a 10-row stand, divided into eight segments, with entrances in the form of vomitories. It will have seating for the disabled and a visitors' sector and will be 8 m high. The stand has been designed to allow for future extension in a north-easterly direction (replacing the current covered stand). The structure will accommodate 2,200 spectators, increasing the capacity of the entire stadium to around 5,500 seats.

How is the extension of MOSiR stadium in Krosno progressing?

The pouring of the foundations for the new stand structure, as well as installation and paving works, began at the end of July 2022. The stand was originally scheduled to be ready by the end of November 2022, but the work was prolonged and the commissioning will probably take place at the end of February 2023. During the construction process, the facility remained functional; moreover, the Wilki Krosno team playing there won promotion to the speedway Ekstraliga in September 2022.

The Wilki’s promotion to the Ekstraliga was historic, because although the traditions of speedway in Krosno date back to the early 1950s, no team from the city had ever played at the highest level of the competition. The success has entailed further investment in the facility, for which the city has still allocated PLN 4 million in September 2022.

Additional works include the expansion of the machine park, the construction of a linear drainage system for the track, the narrowing of the southern curve (so far it has been two meters wider than the curve on the opposite side), the replacement of the flags and the renovation of the referee tower. The stadium is to be adapted to the requirements of the Ekstraliga by mid-March 2023. Thanks to money from Canal+, a mini speedway track may also be built next to the stadium.