Stadion im. Braci Czachorów – construction description

What is the plan for the new Radomiak stadium?

The architectural concept of the new Radomiak stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

The new Radomiak stadium is to be built partly on the site of the old Czachor Brothers Stadium (stadion im. Braci Czachorów), although it will be rotated 90 degrees in relation to it. An integral part of the so-called Radom Sports Centre project (Radomskie Centrum Sportu) is a new sports and entertainment hall to be connected to the stadium's main stand. The capacity of the hall will be 5,600 spectators and the stadium will be about 14,500.

The stadium is to be built in stages. The first stage called for the construction of only the stands along the field, which would provide 8,840 seats. This stage began in 2017 and, after many difficulties, was completed in 2023. The second stage will see the construction of the missing stands behind the goals. Their construction began in May 2024 and is expected to be completed by early 2026 at the latest.

How did the construction of the new Radomiak stadium come about?

What were the initial ideas for a new Radomiak stadium?

Plans to build a new stadium for Radomiak date back to the early 2000s. In 2006, there was a concept to rebuild the stadium on Struga Street, according to which the facility was to receive a real athletics track, and the auditorium was to be covered by a roof supported by impressive arched trusses.

The concept was soon abandoned, however, and consideration was given to building the stadium in a different location. The choice fell on the Koniówka district, where an entire sports and leisure centre was to be built with training pitches, a hotel and the main stadium, which was to hold up to 20,000 spectators. The complex was planned for Euro 2012, as one of the training centres.

Ultimately, nothing came of the plans to build a centre in Koniówka, and the idea of redeveloping the facility on Struga Street was revived. The city had previously secured EU funding, but this came with certain restrictions, so the search for a private investor began instead. The new stadium was now to be exclusively for football, there was also talk of additional commercial functions and the construction of a new sports hall.

Why did the idea to build the Radomiak stadium under the public-private partnership formula not work out?

Five entities were willing to build facilities under the public-private partnership formula. However, regulations changed at the end of 2010, which meant that the city would have exceeded the permitted level of debt if the investment was made with a private partner.

Talks with potential investors were suspended, and the Radom authorities began making efforts to obtain funding for the construction of the hall from the Ministry of Sport and Tourism. In 2012, a competition for the architectural concept of the new hall was held, which was won by the studio APA Czech-Duliński-Wróbel. The vision also included a preliminary outline of the stadium and became the basis for the final concept of the entire complex.

Meanwhile, between 2010 and 2012, MOSiR stadium at Narutowicza Street in Radom was rebuilt.

What was the fans' stance on the construction of the new Radomiak stadium?

In the meantime, fans, seeing an impasse over the stadium issue, founded the 'Stadium for Radomiak' initiative in 2012 and started collecting signatures on a petition to the city authorities. Subsequently, the club's supporters have repeatedly taken a stand on the stadium's construction, expressing their dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work.

How did the issue of surrounding land affect the final shape of the new Radomiak stadium?

Also inextricably linked to the Radomiak stadium is the construction of an adjacent stadium complex, which was to include a sports hall and swimming pool. The facilities had been planned since the 1960s, and land to the east of the stadium was expropriated in the 1970s. The investment was carried out by the company 'Radoskór', but at the end of the 1980s, due to lack of funds, construction was stopped.

After the political change, the land was communalised and in 2003 it was bought by the owner of the Jadar company, who intended to create a sports complex here, including an waterpark. Instead of a new centre, however, the owner invested in the expansion of the factory and sold back the land with the unfinished hall and swimming pool to the city at a profit in 2008.

In 2013, the city started demolishing the facilities and the land was to be used for the construction of a new hall and stadium. In 2014, however, the heirs of the former owners claimed the plot, and the dispute led the city to abandon construction on the site in 2015 and to redeploy the project, which entailed the removal of the surrounding tennis courts and market, and the pitch of the new stadium was turned to an east-west axis.

When were the key decisions on the construction of the new Radomiak stadium made?

In December 2014, Radosław Witkowski, who was an ardent supporter of the stadium's construction, became the new mayor of Radom. After changing the concept so that the facilities would avoid the disputed land, in March 2015 the new mayor announced the construction of the Radom Sports Centre on Struga Street, which was to include a new stadium and hall. The preparation of the functional-utility programme was handled by Estudio Lamela from Warsaw.

How did the construction of the new Radomiak stadium go?

When did the construction of the Radom Sports Centre begin?

In October 2015, the tender for the construction of the Radom Sports Centre was announced, which was won by Rosa-Bud in partnership with Maxto. The contract amount was PLN 110 million. The last match at the old stadium was held on April 9 2016, and on May 4 of the same year the groundbreaking ceremony was held  with the participation of, among others, the mayor of the city.

According to the original plans, the hall was to be ready in the second half of July 2018 and the stadium two months later. The contract only covered the first phase of the stadium, with stands only along the pitch. Initially, the capacity was to be 5,500 spectators, but after the north stand was extended to the full length of the playing field, the planned capacity increased to around 8,500 spectators and, with the addition of the corners, to 8,840 spectators.

In the following months, demolition of the old stadium was carried out and construction of the new indoor arena began. After the closure of the old facility, Radomiak footballers moved to the recently rebuilt stadium on Narutowicza Street.

When did the actual construction of the new Radomiak stadium begin?

The construction of the stadium faced problems from the beginning. It was only on September 26, 2016 that the final concept was presented, and in April 2017 the building permit was issued. On May 15, 2017, a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony was held for the second time, this time for the stadium itself (work on the indoor arena was already progressing).

Why was the contract with the first contractor for the Radomiak stadium broken?

Due to delays, an addendum was signed in June 2018, according to which the hall was to be commissioned in November 2018 and the stadium in February 2019. When, at the beginning of 2019, the contractor asked for another extension of the deadline, as well as an additional PLN 23 million, MOSiR cancelled the contract. An inventory carried out subsequently revealed a number of irregularities.

Who completed the construction of the Radomiak stadium?

A tender for the completion of the works was announced in May 2019, but no interested party came forward at the first deadline. In the second tender, the consortium of Erekta Budownictwo/Interiors Karolina Pawlak won, but when the contract was due to be signed in November, the consortium withdrew from the project. The contract, amounting to more than PLN 82 million, was finally signed on January 16, 2020 with the second bidder, Betonox.

Why were the newly constructed stands dismantled during the construction of the Radomiak stadium?

The new contractor was given one year to complete the construction. Meanwhile, in May 2020, it turned out that the north stand had been built without proper foundations. A decision was made to partially demolish the prefabricated structure erected so far, then a new retaining wall had to be erected, piling and foundations improved. This resulted in a significant increase in costs and an extended completion date. In the summer of 2021, it became apparent that the south stand also required similar work.

Meanwhile, in 2021 Radomiak, whose temporary stay at the stadium on Narutowicza Street was significantly extended, were promoted to the Ekstraklasa for the second time in their history.

When was the first phase of construction of the new Radomiak stadium completed?

In December 2021, the sports and entertainment hall was completed. The first phase of the stadium's construction was completed in the summer of 2023. The facility was inaugurated on July 30, 2023. On the opening day, a football tournament for children was organised at the stadium and the stadium was open to the public for tours. The first official match at the new arena took place on August 5, 2023, when Radomiak faced Cracovia in the 3rd round of the Ekstraklasa (0:1).

How much did the new Radomiak stadium cost?

The cost of the first phase of the stadium ultimately amounted to around PLN 150 million, with the construction of the arena costing a further PLN 115 million. The construction of the arena managed to obtain PLN 35.7 million in funding from the Ministry of Sport and Tourism. The cost of building the stadium was covered entirely by the city, and with increasing amounts and new annexes to the contract, councillors voted on further expenditure.

How does the new Radomiak stadium look after the completion of the first stage of construction?

A presentation of the new Radomiak stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

The new Radomiak stadium has two single-level covered stands along the pitch after the first stage of construction has been completed. The facility was built partly on the site of the old Czachor Brothers Stadium, although the pitch was moved a piece to the north and rotated 90 degrees. The new stadium does not have an athletics track and has a typical football layout. The capacity of the new stands is 8,840 spectators. Among other things, the stadium is equipped with a heated pitch and floodlighting.

The main stand with boxes and VIP seats is located on the south side, and adjoining it on the outside is the circular building of the new 5,600-seat arena, together with which the stadium forms the Radom Sports Centre.

When will the new Radomiak stadium be fully completed?

After the opening of the first two stands, Radomiak continues to play in the Ekstraklasa, and the new stadium regularly records high attendances. After the first stage of construction was completed, empty spaces were left behind the goals, enclosed on the outside by acoustic screens. Target is to erect another two stands behind the goals, which will close the structure into a single unit.

In August 2023, Radom Mayor Radoslaw Witkowski announced that the city had submitted an application for funding for the second stage of the stadium's construction from the government's Polski Ład fund. The application was granted, which was announced in early October 2023. Radom thus received the amount of PLN 30 million, the missing funds (initially estimated to be about PLN 15 million) will be covered from the city budget.

In early April 2024, a tender for the construction of the missing stands was awarded, with the winner being Betonox, the same company that completed the first stage of the stadium's construction. The contract was signed on April 18, 2024, and the value of the contract is PLN 39.59 million. The contractor received 21 months for the implementation of the project.

Phase II of the construction will include the construction of two stands behind the goals, which together will accommodate 5,600 people, increasing the capacity of the entire stadium to nearly 14,500 spectators. The new stands will be built together with a roof, sanitary and service facilities, as well as elements of the lighting, sound and monitoring system.

Construction is to be carried out in such a way as not to interfere with the operation of the stadium and the organization of matches. Both stands will be built simultaneously. At Radomiak's request, work on the construction of the stands is expected to begin after the last match of the 2024/25 season against Widzew, scheduled for May 25, 2024. According to the schedule, the new stands should be put into use in early 2026, although it is likely to be sooner.

The contract with Betonox does not include the stadium's facade, which is to be built as a separate task. A tender for the façade is expected to be issued later in 2024.