The long-discussed expansion of Widzew’s stadium is finally starting to take shape. In the current season, the Łódź club has already hosted three home matches with an average attendance of 17,077 spectators, a figure considered close to full capacity due to safety restrictions.

Club preparing for investment

Widzew’s owner, Robert Dobrzycki, confirmed that preparatory work has begun. The club is analyzing designs and cost estimates in order to assess the feasibility of expanding the stadium to between 28,000 and 32,000 seats. The first step will be to prepare a detailed plan, followed by talks with the city about possible co-financing. Dobrzycki stressed that a larger and more modern stadium is a necessity, even though the project will be very costly.

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He emphasized that Widzew does not intend to wait for city authorities to take the lead but instead wants to prepare independently for negotiations to reach an agreement as soon as possible. The key, he added, will be to identify a commercial financing model that makes the investment viable both for the city and the club. I want to generate an option that is good for the city but also manageable for Widzew and for myself. It has to make commercial sense. Commercial revenue must help us carry the weight of this expansion, Dobrzycki told Łódzki Sport.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

Three modernization scenarios

Architect of the current Widzew Stadium, Jacek Ferdzyn, who once ruled out the possibility of expansion, has recently presented three realistic scenarios for modernization. He noted that phased redevelopments are common in many countries, particularly in England. The first option involves extending the stands on sides B, C, and D by 10–15 meters and constructing a separate structure with independent staircases, although this would require dismantling and replacing the roof.

The second option focuses solely on stand C, which could increase capacity to around 30,000 seats. The third and most ambitious scenario foresees an asymmetrical expansion of stands B, C, and D—adding 10 rows to B and D, and as many as 15–20 rows to C. Stand A would remain unchanged due to key installations located there, while new VIP boxes could also be added on stand C.

Financial and organizational challenges

Each of the proposed scenarios would require significant spending. Ferdzyn estimates that a full expansion would cost between 180 and 200 million PLN—considerably less than building a new stadium, but still a heavy financial burden. Additionally, the project would inevitably force Widzew supporters to vacate the ground temporarily during the works.

© Mariusz Radowicz, Widzew Łódź