Noul stadion Dan Păltinișanu – design description

What does the new Dan Păltinișanu Stadium project look like in brief?

The new stadium in Timișoara will be built on the site of the former Dan Păltinișanu Stadium, whose demolition began in early 2025. The venue will be a football-specific facility with a capacity of 30–32,000 spectators, making it one of the largest stadiums in Romania.

Construction of the new stadium is expected to take more than two years. If everything goes according to plan, building work could start in summer 2026. The stadium will be delivered under a “design and build” system, and its final design may differ from the preliminary renderings.

How were the plans for the new Dan Păltinișanu Stadium developed?

The first plans for a new stadium in Timișoara, intended to replace the Dan Păltinișanu Stadium, appeared in early 2012. The project was initially promoted by the Timiș County authorities, who owned the existing facility. The modern stadium was to be built alongside a large multipurpose sports and entertainment hall.

Due to high costs, the local authorities later withdrew from the project. However, in 2015, reports emerged that the construction of a new stadium in Timișoara could receive support from the central government through the state-owned company Compania Națională de Investiții (CNI).

In early 2020, local authorities commissioned Lucian Simion Arhitectură and Construcții Erbașu to prepare a feasibility study for the new stadium. The study was expected to be completed within 135 days, but work was significantly delayed – it was not until May 2023 that the study was finalized, and preliminary renderings of the future facility were also presented.

What do the plans for the new Dan Păltinișanu Stadium include?

The new stadium will be built on the site of the current Dan Păltinișanu Stadium. Unlike its predecessor, it will be a purely football-specific venue without an athletics track. Its stands will be constructed using reinforced concrete instead of earth embankments and will be covered.

The stadium will have a capacity of 30–32,000 spectators, roughly the same as the previous venue, allowing Timișoara to retain one of the largest stadiums in the country.

What was the former Dan Păltinișanu Stadium like?

Dan Păltinișanu Stadium was opened on 1 May 1963, initially under the name 1 Mai Stadium. For many years, it was among the largest stadiums in the country, with stands built on high earth embankments forming a broad ellipse around the athletics track.

The stadium was home to FC Politehnica Timișoara, which recorded wins here against teams such as Celtic FC, West Ham United, Atlético Madrid, and Sporting CP. The Romanian national team also played six matches at the stadium, including a 2–1 friendly victory over the Soviet Union.

After renovations in the early 21st century, the venue remained one of the best in the country, but its technical condition began to deteriorate rapidly, and even newly installed elements, such as recently added seats, started showing signs of wear.

During a league match on 24 February 2022, the stadium experienced two power outages. The match was suspended, and the visiting team was awarded a walkover. The following day, the stadium was permanently closed to use.

When was the old Dan Păltinișanu Stadium demolished?

On 16 February 2025, the old stadium was farewelled with a special event that included exhibition matches and concerts, with the highlight being a performance by the band Cargo.

Demolition work began on 24 February 2025. The contractor, SMZ Impex, was given eight months to complete the task. The project costs exceed 12 million lei and are being financed by the Timiș County authorities. Most of the old earth embankments were removed within the first few months of work.

When will the new Dan Păltinișanu Stadium be built?

In April 2025, while demolition work was already underway, the state-owned company Compania Națională de Investiții (CNI) awarded the contract for the design and construction of the new stadium to a consortium led by CON-A and Prodesign.

Once the contract is signed, the contractor will have eight months for the design phase and a further 26 months for construction. It is assumed that design work could start in autumn 2025, with construction beginning in summer 2026, which would allow the new stadium to be completed in the second half of 2028.

The total cost of the stadium is estimated at over €135 million, of which around 20% is to be covered by the Timiș County authorities, with the remainder expected to come from the state budget.

Will another modern football stadium be built in Timișoara?

It is worth noting that, independently of the new Stadionul Dan Păltinișanu project, the city authorities have started the construction of another football stadium in a different location, with a capacity of over 10,000 spectators.

The facility, named Arena Eroii Timișoarei, is planned to be built between 2024 and 2026 and is intended to be the city’s second most important stadium, serving smaller clubs; however, until the new Stadionul Dan Păltinișanu is completed, it will function as the main stadium.