Heraklion is preparing for change. The city authorities are considering handing over Stádio Pankritio to OFI, a football club planning a comprehensive modernization of the venue. However, the investment could impact the interests of track and field athletes and other users, sparking lively public debate.

Breakthrough for Stádio Pankritio

At the initiative of Heraklion mayor Alexis Kalokairinos, the City Council was informed of intensive talks held since mid-June between the municipality and OFI Crete. The discussions focus on the future of Stádio Pankritio and the possibility of long-term use by the football club, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025.

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OFI is an important chapter of this city, of its history and its present. We recognize its significance, but also the impact it has had on the life and color of the city through the decades emphasized Mayor Kalokairinos.

He also reminded the public that Stádio Pankritio is Olympic infrastructure, entrusted to the municipality, which until now has served both professional athletes and amateur clubs and residents. The mayor stressed that the aim of the negotiations is to find a balance between the public interest and the ambitions of the football club.

© Michał Zieleniec

Stadium modernization

OFI FC is planning an extensive modernization of the main stadium. The project will include not only replacing the pitch to meet Super League standards but also upgrading the stands, access routes, and public areas.

As part of this commitment, which is approaching its final implementation, the entire main stadium will undergo a thorough upgrade, led by OFI. From then on, the stadium will of course be available not only for the club’s matches but also for other sporting events I previously mentioned, Kalokairinos announced.

Plans also include building a second, smaller stadium within Stádio Pankritio complex. This would allow football and athletics to be separated functionally and create space for the growing number of users.

Not coexistence, but exclusion

The enthusiasm of the city and the club is not fully shared by the athletics community. EAS SEGAS Crete, the regional branch of the Greek Athletics Federation, issued a statement responding to the accusations and expressing serious concern over the proposed limitation of main pitch access to football matches and training by a small group of elite athletes.

We believe that the idea of restricting pitch use solely to 20 elite athletes, excluding more than 1,000 users (600 club members and around 400 citizens), is not coexistence but exclusion from public sports space, the statement reads.

SEGAS points out that for the past 15 years, Stádio Pankritio has operated as a broad ecosystem of users — clubs, families, and amateurs alike. They fear that changes could lead to reduced revenue and the marginalization of other sports groups.

© Michał Zieleniec

Urgent need for dialogue and decisions

The athletics organization has called for a meeting with all stakeholders to work out realistic and balanced solutions. They also highlighted the urgent need to define cooperation terms for the upcoming season — especially in light of rising facility costs and planning needs for over 25 employed staff members.

Among the questions raised by SEGAS are: Is it possible for athletics and football academies to coexist at the auxiliary stadium? And how to manage the two-month recruitment period when multiple groups share the same facilities?

Super League pressure and pitch concerns

Meanwhile, time is working against OFI. The club is seriously concerned about delays in starting the pitch replacement works, which, according to the initial plan, should already be underway. At the current pace, preparing the field by the end of August — in time for the Super League kickoff — remains uncertain.

In addition, the Super League is pressuring the club to confirm which stadium it will use for home games in the upcoming season. This is necessary to allow the installation of semi-automated offside detection technology. The deadline for stadium submission has been set for July 2.

© stadia.gr