New design: One more of Orbán's foreign stadiums
source: StadiumDB.com; author: michał
Hungarians are building so many modern stadiums that you might not keep track of all of them. But here's one special example, another stadium being built outside the country, this time in Serbia.
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Regular Readers of StadiumDB won't be too surprised by this project. We've seen this scheme work before, after all. Here's how it goes: the Hungarian government funnels money through a subsidiary (in this case the Hungarian FA, MLSZ) for the development of Hungarian football outside geographic borders.
The goal is to boost morale of Hungarian diasporas in neighbouring countries by establishing strong football teams. Each of these needs a proper stadium. We've seen the first 'Hungarian' stadium open in Dunajska Streda (Slovakia) last year. Now more are under construction in Osijek (Croatia) and Sfântu Gheorghe (Romania). Today we're adding one more to the list: Bačka Topola (Serbia), just 30 km south of the border.
The new stadium in Bačka Topola is being planned in the same spot where its predecessor used to stand. While this has forced local team, TSC Bačka Topola, to relocate for as long as three seasons, the outcome is supposed to be worth it, referred to by some as the best new stadium in Serbia, at least until larger ones open.
Also, its magnitude stands out massively in the mostly single-family-house area. In fact, the project is not only the largest in Bačka Topola (under 15,000 inhabitants) but even in the entire Vojvodina province (at the time of groundbreaking). The stadium itself has a nearly 2-hectare footprint, while the plot is over twice as big.
Designed by Dragana Knažević, the new stadium has a simple yet modern and distinctive outer form, with strongly corrugated roof line on the sides. The auditorium is a modest one, fitting the needs of the town with its 4,100 seats. However, since the ground is to receive UEFA Category 3 and become the centre of Bačka Topola's sports complex, the stadium itself is a very tall structure. It will even be connected by a skywalk with the nearby natatorium, being built at the same time.
In total, the stadium should offer floor space of 5,500 m2, which is significant for such scale. The plan includes creation of a hotel that would be used by local football academy (along with 4 fields outside the town proper). Bulk of the floor space would be within the south stand, though the western main grandstand will also offer a strip of glazed boxes above regular seats, to be used for hospitality and media members.
Because the town is inhabited mostly by Hungarians (under 60%), it's no surprise that it's the Hungarian government bearing its cost. Initially the price tag was expected to be slightly over €10 million but over time an increase of up to €5 million has surfaced. What hasn't changed is the deadline, expected to be met in mid-2021.
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