The construction of the new Municipal Stadium is progressing rapidly and is approaching its final stages. Currently, the installation of the turf is underway, and discussions regarding the name of the arena have begun. When will GieKSa move into its new home?

Will the first spring match be a farewell to Bukowa?

Katowice Mayor Marcin Krupa laid the first piece of turf on the new Municipal Stadium using a special machine. This marks the completion of the complex’s construction. The grass is sourced from a Polish company and is of the highest quality. With the irrigation and heating systems, the pitch will be rated as Class 4, which is the highest standard in Europe, the mayor said, as reported by Dziennik Zachodni.

Simultaneously, finishing works, painting, furnishing, and marking the stands are being carried out, alongside the setup of the lighting systems. The system comprises 500 LED floodlights that can be dynamically managed for the entire stadium. This allows them to sync with the music played through the stadium's sound system, which has been undergoing testing in recent days. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of October, and the handover process will commence.

GieKSa plans to move to the new stadium in spring; however, as reported by Dziennik Zachodni, there is a proposal for the first home match of 2025, scheduled for February 1-2, to take place at the old stadium in Bukowa as an official farewell to the venue. The inauguration of the new facility would then be marked by a derby match against Piast Gliwice.

© Maciej M.

Mayor provides investment cost details

Recently, the city announced another tender, this time for the preparation of design documentation and construction works related to the finishing and furnishing of commercial areas, including hotel, restaurant, and retail sectors. This phase of the investment is set to conclude within seven months of signing the contract, meaning these services will likely only be fully available in the 2025/2026 season.

The KADOKA Architects studio has prepared the first visualizations of the spaces, which include small and large dining facilities, a fan shop, hotel rooms, a hotel corridor, a VIP area, and a restaurant. VIP sections will certainly make this stadium a more attractive venue for corporate sponsors, including sports betting companies and online casino brands. Casino sponsorship is becoming increasingly popular in sports, and the stadium in Katowice has tapped into this trend, offering sponsorship opportunities that contribute to its modernization.

During the architectural competition, costs were estimated at 180 million PLN. Later, during the design phase, the estimate rose to 500 million PLN. Considering the entire facility and the communication solutions that needed to be implemented, as well as the new solutions, this investment will end up costing several hundred million PLN, said the Mayor of Katowice. Currently, efforts are underway to find a title sponsor for the facility.

The investment project includes the construction of a stadium with stands that can accommodate 14,896 spectators, a multi-purpose sports hall, a main square, two full-size training pitches, and parking for approximately 500 vehicles.

The new stadium will be a single-storey structure with volumetric facilities beneath the spectator area. The seating area consists of four inclined stands connected by sloped corners. Below them, there will be four corner vomitories that allow vehicles to access the playing field and provide ventilation for the pitch, which will be equipped with drainage, irrigation, and heating systems. The southern, eastern, and northern stands will have 21 elevated rows, while the western stand will have 20.

The entire sports complex will be surrounded by a covered colonnade of columns measuring 50×50 cm, on which the steel roof structure will rest.

© Maciej M.

Discussions on the name of the new stadium on Nowa Bukowa Street

A more symbolic name has already been proposed. During the 60th anniversary celebration of GKS Katowice, club president Krzysztof Nowak suggested that the new Municipal Stadium should be named after Jan Furtok, a legendary player who has been battling a serious illness for years. That’s a very good idea, but I think it’s worth asking the community, so we will certainly hold a competition or a public inquiry regarding the name for the stadium, said the Mayor of Katowice.

He also announced that documents for renaming the street Nowa Bukowa, where the stadium is located, have been submitted to the City Council, and the matter should be on the agenda of the next session.

What future awaits the "old" Bukowa?

The Mayor also indicated that the current stadium of GKS Katowice will continue to function as a sports complex for children and youth, as well as for the women’s team of GKS Katowice, if they choose not to relocate to the new stadium with the men's team. Additionally, the entire headquarters of GKS Katowice will be moved from Bukowa.