Stadion Żużlowy w Pile – design description

How did the plans to modernise Piła's speedway stadium happen?

In December 2020, Piła's president Piotr Głowski and the director of the Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre (Miejski Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji) Dariusz Kubicki announced plans to modernise Stadion Żużlowy w Pile at a press conference. It was a rather difficult time to undertake such an initiative, firstly because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and secondly due to the suspension of the Polonia Piła speedway club after the 2019 season. However, the initiators came up with the assumption that the dog days provide a good opportunity to carry out the work, and that the reactivation of speedway in Piła and the return of fans to the stands will happen sooner or later anyway.

In order to make the initiative rational, the objectives of the planned modernisation were not set too high. The main goals included the enlargement of the pitch inside the track, the rebuilding of the speedway track and the stands, the upgrading of the floodlighting and the referee tower, the creation of a new machine park, facilities for the riders and the construction of an administration building. It was estimated that the cost of the investment should be between PLN 6 and 10 million.

Carrying out the investment depended on the city obtaining external funding, which should cover a significant part of the costs. The initiators made attempts to acquire subsidies from various government programmes. Eventually, with the help of members of parliament associated with Piła, Grzegorz Piechowiak and Marcin Porzuck, in October 2021 the city received funding from the 'Polish Deal' ("Polski Ład") fund in the amount of PLN 16.65 million (in the meantime, the estimated cost of the works has risen to PLN 18 million).

When is the Piła speedway stadium to be rebuilt?

In the spring of 2022, after a two-season hiatus, Polonia Piła restarted its speedway competition. The tender for the modernisation of the stadium was launched in July 2022. Once awarded, the contractor will be given a total of 14 months to carry out the work, which will be divided into two stages - the first before the start of the 2023 season and the second in autumn 2023.

What does the concept for the modernisation of Stadion Polonii Piła include?

The redevelopment concept was prepared by ARCHI-GRAF Janusz Kiciński & Roman Szumny architectural studio. It assumes that the pitch will be enlarged to a standard size, so that matches of senior competitions can be held there. The speedway track will also be reconstructed and will receive a new granite surface. The modernised stands will seat 4,970. There will also be new floodlights and the referee tower will be renovated.

A new machine park will be built at the stadium, and there are also plans for an administration building and warehouses. New barriers will be erected on the straights and curves. Social facilities for competitors, referees and medics will be improved. New safety zones will be created between the track and the stands. The entrance areas to the stadium will be changed and there will be designated areas for spectator toilets and catering facilities, as well as establishing a shop or ticket office.