Opole is one of the last large cities in Poland whose team still plays league matches at a stadium built before World War II. Fortunately, this will soon change, as the construction of Odra's new stadium is nearing completion.

Awaiting the "dress"

The project was created by the Warsaw-based studio 90 Architekci. On December 14, 2021, a contract for the construction was signed with Mirbud S.A. The Opole Stadium is built on 130 support columns. An interesting feature will be the imprints of various symbols, including the coat of arms of the city of Opole, in the concrete prefabricates.You know what's equally interesting? Each comb beam weighs over 20 tons and is connected to at least three columns. The two-tiered stands, constructed from nearly 600 elements, will have an average of 20 seats each.

The excitement surrounding the new stadium is comparable to the thrill of playing a high low game online. Just as players experience a rush of emotions with each move, anticipating wins and facing challenges, the construction of the stadium brings a similar sense of anticipation and excitement to the community, promising a modern venue for memorable sporting events.

Underneath three of the stands, there will be technical and utility rooms, as well as food and beverage outlets and restrooms. The rooms in the western stand will serve as the club building. The fan section, located in sector 4, will accommodate 2,856 people, and there will be 1,217 seats for visiting team supporters.

The interior of the club building and the VIP boxes are still being finished. Partition walls are being erected, and sanitary facilities and communication routes are being installed. The final work on installing the steel roof structure is also underway. Around the steel structure, a special membrane, known as the 'dress,' will soon be stretched. This is a special fiberglass fabric coated with Teflon, covering an area of 6,400 square meters. Thanks to this innovation, the 'dress' can function as a screen for displaying various projections. Sewing it took a whole year, says Katarzyna Oborska-Marciniak, Vice President of the Municipal Company, in an interview with opole.pl.

© Fasha

Going green and sustainable

Workers have already finished installing the turf drainage and heating systems. The playing field is slowly turning green. The sowing of grass was preceded by laboratory tests and the appropriate selection of a seed mixture to ensure optimal growth in a 10-month cycle.

Entrance gates, or turnstiles, through which fans will enter the matches, have been installed. Pavers have also started their work, including laying curbs, building internal roads, and constructing parking lots around the stadium. On the side of Północna Street, a new access road is being constructed.

The stadium will be very eco-friendly. It will be equipped with photovoltaics, heat pumps, and generators with a cogeneration function. Even rainwater will not go to waste; it will be used to irrigate the pitch. The water will be collected in four tanks (each 100 cubic meters = 10,000 buckets of water) hidden under the eastern stand of the stadium.

The cost of the investment is approximately 170 million PLN. The city obtained 100 million PLN from the sale of shares in the Water and Sewerage Company, with the remaining amount coming from a loan. The construction of the new stadium in Opole is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. The first match will be played at the beginning of next year.

© Fasha