Poland’s longest ongoing stadium project will cost no less than PLN 650 million, almost doubling the original planned budget. At least the deadline of July 2017 seems to be safe.

During today’s press conference at Stadion Śląski’s construction site we learned that Forum Seating will supply the stadium with over 54,000 seats. Though their final colour scheme is yet to be determined, the only two colours under consideration are blue and yellow, along with Upper Silesia coat of arms.

The seats will be in place by the end of June, 2017. Two weeks earlier the new running track and hybrid football field are expected to be ready. These are the last two major tasks before the building’s handover procedures in July. From August onwards Ruch Chorzów are expected to play their Ekstraklasa games here.

But perhaps the most important news today is that of cost increase, long-expected to be true despite cost-cutting in recent months. The stadium’s roof alone proved much more expensive than planned after the catastrophe from 2011. Thus the budget is now growing from PLN 586 million to 650 million (from $154 to 170 million).

Increase also stems from additional upgrades that weren’t planned before. Stadium hotel, built into the east stand, will be improved to reach 3-star standard, while the entire stadium will receive a LED-web wrap to improve its appearance and commercial potential. But while more impressive, the stadium’s budget is now almost twice what it was back in 2008 (PLN 360 million)!