This Romanian city hasn’t got enough resources for a brand new football stadium. So why not save the old one with much, much less? These are the first effects.

Bacău in eastern Romania has seen some proposals of a new stadium, football-specific and in a new location. But none came to fruition so far, largely due to limited financial capability. Bearing several debt burdens, the city now decided to go another way.

Earlier this year the municipality commissioned Vanel Exim architectural practice with the task of reviving the outdated Stadionul Municipal. The outcome is very interesting – if not for aesthetic reasons, then surely for economic ones.

Upgrading the old stadium, covering all seats and expanding the main stand, reaching 20,000 in total, should cost just €8 million. While construction cost in Romania is visibly lower than in western Europe, this budget is still one that might result with envy from many other cities with similar problems.

In all fairness it needs to be added that the stands were partially renovated in recent years. Also, the revamped stadium would use the very same floodlight system that already exists. Still, brand new steel frame with attractive angular roof/facade segments seem to change the stadium’s image around.