Stadion Miejski Tychy – stadium description

The story behind Tychy’s new municipal stadium began much alike most others in Poland: first there were plans that may have seemed too ambitious and unrealistic. Then there was trouble implementing the 2010 vision as actual cost estimates proved beyond the city’s abilities. It was hoped the project would cost PLN 100 million, but tender bids ranged from 164 to 218 million.

This is where many projects fall through, but in Tychy this wasn’t the case. Design was scaled back significantly, losing some 3,000 seats and part of the planned infrastructure, like underground parking. Over 300 places were left in direct vicinity of the stadium.

Finally in autumn of 2012 Mostostal Warszawa was chosen as preferred bidder, agreeing to deliver the stadium for PLN 128.9 million. With 15,150 seats it was to be one of the biggest and most modern throughout the Upper Silesian region from 2015 onwards.

Architecture and aesthetics is the work of Perbo-Inwestycje, who managed to create a distinctive stadium with simple means, not losing on functionalities. The colours selected (dark tinware on roof/facades, red walls and black-green-red seats) correspond to GKS Tychy coat of arms and create a consistent appearance.

Unlike most stadiums in Poland, this one managed to avoid unnecessary perimeter fencing by locating turnstiles within the building rather than throughout its foreground. This allowed locating commercial spaces on ground level of south and east stands, while the south-western corner is occupied by conference and banqueting facilities partly overlooking the field.

Construction ended with only a slight 3-week delay in the summer of 2015. Opening game of GKS Tychy and 1. FC Koeln was sold out long in advance despite the local team only playing in the third league at the time of launch into operation.