Stadion Ernesta Pohla – historical stadium description

The idea of building a new stadium in western Hindenburg arose in 1920s. In 1928 a renowned landscape architect from Berlin, Gustaw Allinger, designed a vast complex that included a swimming pool and outdoor sports courts (west), main stadium (central) and two training fields (east). As was common in those days, the entire complex had a simple, symmetric and monumental layout.

Construction of the landfill terracing around a 5-lane running track began in March 1933 and lasted until September of 1934. This is when the building was inaugurated with 8 flat rows of terraces for up to 20,000 people. Decorated with a large Nazi eagle in the west and surrounded with Nazi flags, the building was named Adolf Hitler Kampfbahn.

At that time there was no main grandstand in the west, it was built a year later with Nazi symbols decorating its facade. The building was preserved almost unchanged until 2016, while Hitler’s name seized to be used in 1946, when Hindenburg was turned to now-Polish city of Zabrze. The building was occupied by Soviet armed forces and once they left, Górnik moved in.

The football club soon gained great popularity and in 1950s fought to become Poland’s champion twice, witnessed by thousands upon thousands of people. From 20,000 the stadium grew to 30,000+ by reconfiguration of existing rows and then in 1965 to 40,000+ as additional rows were added on top of the previously-existing ones. In 1967 floodlight masts were erected and, after several upgrades, remained in operation until 2011. In 1980s the giant scoreboard was built behind the southern curve.

Interestingly, though Nazi ornaments were removed right after WWII and Adolf Hitler Kampfbahn was never used after 1946, formally Adolf Hitler was the stadium’s name holder until 2004, when local football legend Ernest Pohl replaced him. Pohl remained the patron until 2016, when official name of Arena Zabrze was adopted.