Stadion Miejski Hutnik Kraków – design description

What does the Hutnik Kraków stadium look like today?

Hutnik Kraków Stadium, known colloquially as “Suche Stawy” (“Dry Ponds”), was officially inaugurated on May 12, 1957. The facility was expanded prior to the 1978 UEFA Youth Tournament, and underwent some more ad hoc upgrades in the 21st century.

In 2020, makeshift bleachers were built along the pitch, on the west side, to meet 2 Liga requirements. The old stands have since been mostly shut down, and the stadium can accommodate a modest 1,669 spectators.

Who are the hosts of the stadium on Ptaszyckiego Street?

Hutnik Kraków (formerly known as Stal) was founded in 1950. It is a multi-section club, although the most popular is the football branch. The club represents Nowa Huta, the northeastern industrial district of Kraków, established after World War II (originally planned as a separate city).

Hutnik played at the highest division in Poland between 1990 and 1997, and the team's greatest successes include 3rd place in the league in 1995/96 and appearances in the UEFA Cup the following season.

In the 21st century, however, the club spent many seasons at the fourth and fifth divisions, financial and organizational problems also arose, as well as the formation of the New Hutnik 2010 association. In 2020, after the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hutnik was promoted as the 19th team to the 2nd League, returning to the central level after an 18-year hiatus.

The ambition of the club's activists is to make further progress and, in the future, be promoted to the Ekstraklasa.

How did the plans for Hutnik Kraków's new stadium come about?

Hutnik's officials have been lobbying the city authorities for a new stadium for a long time. The condition of the current facility is bad, and the last upgrade in 2020 was very makeshift.

In 2022, a concept for a new Hutnik Kraków stadium, created by arch. Piotr Grabowski of the Gliwice-based design studio OBA, circulated in the media. However, it was a vision created independently, as a matter of passion and interest in the subject matter, and as a voice in the debate over a potential new Hutnik facility.

Kraków authorities eventually became interested in investing in a facility for the leading club of Nowa Huta. In early 2023, it was announced that a contract had been signed to create a preliminary concept for the new stadium. Its execution, commissioned by the Board of Sports Infrastructure (Zarząd Infrastruktury Sportowej – ZIS), was handled by Autorska Pracownia Projektowa Jerzy Wowczak.

The concept for the new stadium was presented at a specially convened press conference held on March 21, 2024 (on the club's 74th anniversary) at Hutnik Stadium.

What does the concept for the new Hutnik Kraków stadium entail?

The new stadium is to be built in place of the current facility. The stadium is to have stands arranged in a football layout, much closer to the field. The auditorium will be roofed and will have 8051 seats for fans. The facility is to meet UEFA Category 3 criteria and requirements for Ekstraklasa matches.

What will be inside the premises of the new Hutnik Kraków stadium?

The main stand, according to the latest standards, will be moved from east to west side. Its premises will include the necessary facilities for football matches and other events, including locker rooms for players and rooms for referees.

The rooms of the eastern stand will be mainly for the club's use. They will include an administrative area, a conference room, training rooms, as well as a commercial area, including a club store and museum. Underneath the stands behind the goals, there will be only technical rooms, related to the operation of the stadium.

Above the east and west stands, glass-enclosed rooms overlooking the pitch will be built to house catering areas and skyboxes. As a result, the roof over the stands along the pitch will be higher than that of the stands behind the goals.

Why can't the new Hutnik Kraków stadium be too high?

One of the key issues that had to be addressed in planning the construction of the new stadium is the height of the building. In 2016, it was necessary to dismantle the floodlight masts, which had been moved to Hutnik's stadium from the Cracovia facility in 2009, because they interfered with the view from the Wanda Mound to the Cistercian Abbey in Mogiła.

The designers followed the recommendations of the conservator of historical monuments, according to which the height of the building should not exceed 22 meters at this location. The tall masts are to be replaced by floodlights set on the roof and low masts that will stand only behind the goals.

How will the new Hutnik Kraków stadium look from the outside?

The stadium is also intended to fit into the context of its surroundings, which is reflected in the triangular, pointed details in the roof structure elements, harmonizing with the architecture of the nearby sports hall.

The plan calls for preserving as much as possible of the existing greenery in the stadium's surroundings – especially on the north side, where most fans will reach the stadium, with their route leading through the park area.

In addition, it is planned to implement solutions in line with the ideas of sustainable development, such as photovoltaic panels, a heat pump and a rainwater tank.

When will the new Hutnik Kraków stadium be built?

The city has set aside a total of PLN 2.5 million in the 2024–2025 budget to complete the full design documentation along with obtaining a building permit. If everything goes according to plan and the city manages to secure the funds needed for the investment, construction could start in 2026 and be completed in 2029. It is worth noting that in 2030 Hutnik will celebrate its 80th anniversary.

It is not yet known whether Hutnik will have to move to another location for the duration of construction. The club would prefer the investment to be carried out in stages, so that the team can play its matches at its own facility throughout this period.

What will be the cost of building Hutnik Kraków's new stadium?

The cost of building the new stadium is to be known only after the full design documentation is completed. Initial unofficial estimates put the amount at around PLN 150 million.