Arena Eroii Timișoarei – design description

How does the Arena Eroii Timișoarei project look in brief?

The new football stadium, with a capacity of over 10,000 spectators, is planned for the south-eastern part of Timișoara and is being developed at the initiative of the city authorities. Ultimately, it is intended to serve as the city’s second most important venue, hosting smaller clubs, but until the new Dan Păltinișanu Stadium is completed, it will act as the main stadium.

The facility is designed with four independent stands, which will be unified into a single, rectangular structure by a common roof and facade. On the southern side, adjacent to the main stand, a large building will be constructed. The stadium is planned to meet UEFA Category 4 requirements.

Construction was officially inaugurated on 4 March 2024, and the works are expected to continue until summer 2026. The project requires relocating a tram loop to a new site. An unexpected challenge arose when 70 tons of waste (about 20% of the excavation volume) were discovered after earthworks began.

The stadium’s name will commemorate the “Eroii Timișoarei” (“Heroes of Timișoara”) – the victims of demonstrations in December 1989 in Timișoara, which sparked the Romanian Revolution.

When were the plans for Arena Eroii Timișoarei created?

The construction of a new stadium on Calea Buziașului, about 5 km south-east of the center of Timișoara, was first announced in 2018 by then-mayor Nicolae Robu. The original project envisioned a 15,000-seat stadium with a modular metal structure, earning it the nickname “Lego Stadium.”

In 2020, Dominic Fritz became the new mayor and decided to continue the project, though the planned capacity was reduced to 9,000 spectators (later slightly increased to over 10,000). Ultimately, a more durable reinforced concrete structure was chosen.

In February 2022, a tender procedure was launched to select the main contractor for the stadium. The design-and-build contract was signed on 29 May 2023 with SC Tehnodomus SA.

At the beginning of February 2024, the city announced that the design works had been completed, and the mayor signed the building permit. At the same time, new renderings of the stadium were presented.

What does the Arena Eroii Timișoarei project include?

The plan envisages a football-specific stadium with a capacity of 10,101 spectators. The facility will feature four separate stands on each side of the pitch – the stands behind the goals will be slightly higher, and the main stand with VIP boxes will be located on the southern side. The adjoining support building will face the main street.

Four sturdy corner columns will support metal trusses for the roof. The exterior will be finished with a ventilated facade of thin vertical slats, forming a cohesive rectangular structure.

A park and a car park with space for over 430 vehicles are planned next to the stadium.

What does the name Arena Eroii Timișoarei mean?

The stadium’s name commemorates the “Eroii Timișoarei” (“Heroes of Timișoara”) – the victims of the December 1989 demonstrations in Timișoara, where the Romanian Revolution began, eventually leading to the overthrow of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Where will the Arena Eroii Timișoarei be located?

The new stadium will be built on Calea Buziașului, a major artery running south-east from the city center. The facility will be constructed on a city-owned, undeveloped plot located approximately 5 km from the center of Timișoara.

The construction requires relocating a tram loop that occupies part of the site – the new loop will be situated a short distance west of the current location.

The plot is located near industrial facilities, and significant amounts of waste were discovered during initial earthworks – a total of 70 tons of debris, constituting about 20% of the excavation volume, had to be removed.

Why is the Arena Eroii Timișoarei being built?

For many years, the undisputed main sports facility in Timișoara was Dan Păltinișanu Stadium, the second-largest stadium in Romania by capacity. In the 21st century, despite renovations, its condition gradually deteriorated, and at the beginning of 2022 it was taken out of use.

For some time, plans had been in place to build a modern, football-specific arena on its site. The old stadium was only demolished in 2025, and construction of the new stadium could start at the earliest in the summer of 2026.

Stadionul Dan Păltinișanu is owned by Timiș County, which is responsible for its maintenance and any investments. Construction of a new stadium on its site is also expected to receive significant support from the state budget.

Meanwhile, the city authorities decided to act independently regarding the stadium and opted to use a city-owned undeveloped plot on Calea Buziașului.

A smaller but more modern facility, meeting UEFA Category 4 criteria, could temporarily replace the old Dan Păltinișanu Stadium and, in the long term, serve smaller clubs such as the reactivated Ripensia Timișoara, which draws on the traditions of a team that won four national championships before World War II.

The stadium will also be available for the city’s successful rugby team, SCM USV Timișoara, although authorities plan to build another facility dedicated exclusively to rugby.

When will the Arena Eroii Timișoarei be completed?

Construction work began shortly after the mayor signed the building permit – the cornerstone-laying ceremony, including the burial of a time capsule, took place on 4 March 2024. The construction period is set at 28 months, with completion expected in summer 2026.

Updates on the construction of Arena Eroii Timișoarei can be followed on a dedicated webpage

How much will the Arena Eroii Timișoarei cost?

The construction is expected to cost over 123.6 million lei and will be financed from the city budget.