97 years ago Poland regained independence. And since the date is special for us, here are 11 stadiums from Poland added on 11/11.

Stadion MOSiR, Łódź (5,700)

© Bartek Kuśmierz

New stadium for the renowned ŁKS team is being born in phases. Its design was obtained by the city of Łódź in 2011, during an eventually failed attempt at public-private partnership. The city decided to use the documents and pursue the plan of building a new arena just meters north from the old stadium and nearby Atlas Arena.

The stadium should eventually hold 16,000+ people in horseshoe layout and over 20,000 when fully enclosed. During the first phase only the western main grandstand was built (2013-2015), holding under 6,000 people.

The project consumed PLN 94.4 million, raising many eyebrows with the budget. However, this grandstand holds all necessary infrastructure to hold games and in terms of capacity meets the standards of Polish top tier. One thing not built yet is the floodlighting system, which will top the roof once another stand is delivered.

Unfortunately during the implementation ŁKS was dissolved and reborn on amateur level. As the club is making its way back to the top tier, the municipality pledged to launch further phases of the project when demand is sufficient.

Stadion ZOS Bałtyk, Koszalin (4,000)

© Jörg Pochert

It’s the oldest and most centrally-located stadium operating in Koszalin. It lies along the Dzierżęcinka River just out of the old town. It was opened in 1935, but didn’t operate long before the WWII began. After the Nazi reign it was relaunched into operation in 1945, while full repairs ended in 1946.

Current situation preserves nearly all of the stadium’s initial layout with low landfill stands throughout the stadium and one taller in the west, accommodating all player infrastructure. In 2010 part of the east side was covered.

Stadion Koszarawy, Żywiec (2,500)

© Adam Szyszka

Although the club playing its games here is named Koszarawa (after one of Żywiec’s rivers), the stadium itself lies nearby the greater Soła River. It’s the largest sports stadium in eastern part of the city and offers some 2,500 capacity for games. The west side has a significant covered section which accommodates most of the ground’s 700 seats.

Miejski Stadion Lekkoatletyczny im. Wiesława Maniaka, Szczecin (1,638)

© Sebastian Spychała, Stadiony.net

The main athletics stadium of Stettin was built from scratch in the west of the city in 2002. It has only one grandstand, but is IAAF-certified thanks to extensive infrastructure inside it, like 7 changing rooms or covered training track for sprinters. The stadium is floodlit and used on a daily basis by MKL Szczecin, the municipal athletic club.

Stadion OSiR, Ząbkowice Śląskie (1,266)

© Paweł Borkowski

The municipal stadium in Ząbkowice Śląskie is located in a U-shaped sunken bowl. The western end is left open, while all seating (1,266 seats) is located within the southern grandstand. The building is accompanied by two training fields, shooting range and tennis courts.

Stadion WSKFiT, Pruszków (1,056)

© Sebastian Spychała, Stadiony.net

Stadium operated by local athletics college WSKFiT and is located in western Pruszków, beside central railway line to nearby Warsaw. Until 2005 the venue had natural football field and a rather poor running track. Both were replaced in 2006 and now the turf is synthetic. Also during the works, the main grandstand in the west was built.

Stadion Szombierek, Bytom (1,000)

© Bartłomiej Kopczyński

It’s one of two most important stadiums in Bytom, built in 1968 in the southern district of Szombierki. Its construction was financed by the Szombierki coal mine, which at that time was at peak of its prosperity.

Thus the great size of 30,000 and aspirations reaching the Polish championship. Those were realistic, as it proved in 1980, when Szombierki indeed dominated domestic football.

Unfortunately, just like the now defunct mine, the stadium went into despair in 1990s. It took the football club down too, ending with the main team being withdrawn from professional football in 2007 (now revived again, partly as a grassroots initiative).

Around that time the stadium was taken over by the municipality of Bytom to make it usable again. Dilapidating roof over most of the west stand was taken off and a small central section went through a thorough redevelopment. Still, capacity today stands at some 1,000, a minor percentage of the giant. Of the 23 sections 16 are entirely covered by vegetation.

Stadion Miejski, Trzemeszno (1,000)

© OSiR Trzemeszno

The multi-use stadium in Trzemeszno, Greater Poland, is located on the southern end of town and has two grandstands. The bigger one along southern site of the field offers 600 covered seats and a pavilion with all necessary sports infrastructure. North side has three modest open-air sections of seating.

Stadion Cartusii, Kartuzy (1,000)

© Bartosz Bartkowiak

The municipal stadium in Kartuzy was built in 1935 as a vast sporting complex. Aside from football it also hosted a running track, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, shooting range and other functions. Currently it’s used primarily for football with fans seated along the south and north sides.

Stadion MKS Pogoń, Miechów (1,000)

© Bartłomiej Kopczyński

The municipal stadium is located in the east of Miechów, near major residential estates. It offers app. 1,000 capacity in the west stand. There’s a landfill prepared for additional sections in the east, but demand doesn’t require expansions. After seat installation, Pogoń Miechów have 264 seated room for their fans.

Stadion Miejski, Skalbmierz (400)

© Bartłomiej Kopczyński

The municipal stadium in Skalbmierz lies just outside of town and has one grandstand with 400 covered seats. It stands along the northern side, while south is occupied by a large pavilion, expanded in 2013, which provides full infrastructure for local sports.