Stadion Miejski w Nowym Sączu – stadium description

What is the brief overview of the Municipal Stadium in Nowy Sącz?

Concrete plans to build a new stadium in Nowy Sącz emerged after Sandecja achieved a historic promotion to the Ekstraklasa in 2017 – and had to relocate to Nieciecza, as the existing stadium did not meet the league’s requirements.

However, the project was delayed, and construction only began in June 2021. The stadium was originally scheduled to open in summer 2023, but work fell significantly behind schedule, prompting the city to terminate its contract with the contractor.

A new contractor was not selected until the end of 2024, and the stadium was fully completed in summer 2025, although Sandecja had already used it throughout the previous season, albeit without spectators.

The new facility was built on the site of the former stadium, which had opened in 1970. Although a cost-saving design without stands behind the goals was initially planned, the city eventually allocated additional funds, resulting in a closed, rectangular structure.

This gave Sandecja a relatively modest but modern and aesthetically pleasing football stadium, meeting UEFA Category 3 requirements, with the potential to achieve Category 4 in the future.

How did the new Sandecja stadium come about?

The first ideas to replace the old Father Władysław Augustynek Stadium with a new facility appeared after Sandecja’s promotion to the 1. Liga (second tier) in 2009. At that time, the project was limited to renovating the existing stadium and installing floodlight masts, which were ready by early 2011.

The need for a new stadium became even more apparent after Sandecja’s historic promotion to the Ekstraklasa in 2017. Since the stadium in Nowy Sącz did not meet top-flight requirements, the team had to play its home matches at the stadium in Nieciecza, more than 70 km away.

City authorities then took steps to build a new stadium. The mayor at the time, Ryszard Nowak, promised fans a new stadium in May 2017, immediately after the promotion.

The first tender for rebuilding the existing stadium was announced in October 2017. The only bid amounted to PLN 60 million, while the city could allocate only PLN 50 million, so the tender was canceled.

At the beginning of 2018, fans organized a demonstration in front of the town hall regarding the stadium. Although Sandecja spent only one season in the Ekstraklasa, work on the stadium continued, and in August 2018 the first renderings of a facility for over 8,000 spectators were published.

In November 2018, Ludomir Handzel became the new mayor and also became involved in the new stadium project. Since building stands for 8,000 spectators was considered too expensive, a scaled-down design was developed in 2020, planning a capacity of 4,860 people.

The stadium was to have stands only along the pitch and a modest guest sector behind the western goal. In the future, there was the possibility of expanding with new stands behind the goals.

When was the new Sandecja stadium built?

Despite some difficulties, the construction tender was finally awarded in June 2021. The general contractor was Blackbird, and the contract was worth PLN 50.67 million.

The ceremonial signing of the contract took place on 19 June 2021 at the stadium and featured an impressive display: heavy machinery was driven onto the pitch, a stage was set up, and at the end, the mayor and Jan Kos, president of the Blackbird group, went up on a lift and ignited flares at height.

Work began shortly after the contract was signed, starting with the demolition of the stands on the north and west sides. The construction of new stands followed immediately afterwards.

How did the plans for the new Sandecja stadium change after construction began?

Although the contract originally provided for stands only along the sidelines (plus a modest guest sector behind the western goal), in February 2022 the city council decided to expand the scope of the project.

The new stadium was to have similar stands behind the goals as well, creating a compact, enclosed structure. As a result, the planned capacity increased from 4,860 to 8,111 spectators. A corresponding annex to the contract, increasing its value by approximately PLN 25 million (to a total of PLN 75 million), was signed with the contractor in March 2022.

The design of the Municipal Stadium in Nowy Sącz can be viewed on a separate subpage

Where did Sandecja play during the construction of the new stadium?

Until the new pitch was ready, Sandecja played its matches away, but in autumn 2021 the team returned to its stadium, where it continued to play until the end of the 2021/22 season.

After the 2021/22 season, the main stand – the last remnant of the old stadium – was demolished. From that point on, Sandecja played its matches at the stadiums of Puszcza Niepołomice and Garbarnia Kraków.

During this period away from the city, the team suffered two further relegations: in 2023 to the 2. Liga, and in 2024 to the 3. Liga.

After the 2024 relegation to the 3. Liga, the team returned to playing in Nowy Sącz – already in front of the new stands, which were not yet fully completed, and all matches in the 2024/25 season were played behind closed doors. Later that same season, Sandecja achieved promotion back to the national level (2. Liga).

How did the construction of the new Sandecja stadium proceed?

Although the new stands were rising on the construction site and progress was visible, reports of delays appeared almost from the very beginning. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic was ongoing, and the war in Ukraine broke out.

Originally, the completion of the project was planned for June 2023, and this deadline was maintained even after the scope of work was expanded at the beginning of 2022. Over time, however, it became clear that the deadline could not be met due to delays. In August 2023, a second annex to the contract was signed, postponing the stadium’s handover to November 2023.

Due to further delays, in October 2023 the city terminated its cooperation with the general contractor – the Blackbird group. At that point, the progress of the works was estimated at 80%. From then on, only minor works were carried out on the site, commissioned through separate tenders.

The contract to complete the stadium was finally signed on 19 December 2024 with the company Betonox, valued at PLN 55.5 million. The new contractor was given eight months to complete the task – this time, further delays were avoided.

A report on the construction of the Municipal Stadium in Nowy Sącz can be viewed on a separate subpage

How much did the new Sandecja stadium cost?

The construction of the stadium cost at least PLN 105 million, although some media reports indicate a significantly higher amount, up to PLN 185 million. The project was carried out and financed (with the help of loans) by the city, through its company Nowosądecka Infrastruktura Komunalna.

When was the new Sandecja stadium inaugurated?

The official inauguration of the new stadium took place on Saturday, 30 August 2025. The opening featured, among other events, a rugby match (Biało-Czarni Nowy Sącz vs. KS Rugby Ruda Śląska), concerts by In-Grid and Velvet, as well as a laser show.

The following day, Sandecja played its first match at the new stadium with spectators (a full house), drawing 1–1 in a 2. Liga match against Chojniczanka.

It is worth noting that the team had been playing at the new stadium for over a year, but since the facility was not yet completed, matches were held behind closed doors – the very first match Sandecja played at the new stadium was on 11 August 2024 against Podlasie Biała Podlaska in the 3. Liga, won 3–2.

What does the Municipal Stadium in Nowy Sącz look like?

The stadium has a fairly simple yet elegant and modern rectangular design, with single-tier stands surrounding the pitch. The stands can accommodate 8,111 spectators and are fully covered. Seating consists of foldable seats in white, grey, and black – reflecting Sandecja’s black-and-white colors.

The main stand, located on the southern side, is attached to a large club building. The space between the stands and the roof is filled with ventilated panels with a mesh facade, which can be illuminated at night.

The stadium is equipped with, among other features, a heated turf and LED lighting mounted on low masts along the roof edge. The facility meets UEFA Category 3 requirements, though with a capacity exceeding 8,000 spectators, it could potentially attain Category 4 status.

Where is the Municipal Stadium in Nowy Sącz located?

The facility was built on the site of the old stadium, which had opened in 1970. It is situated about 1 km southeast of the city center, on the banks of the Kamienica River, next to the Sądecki Cursed Soldiers Roundabout – at the intersection of Jana Kilińskiego and Krańcowa streets.

The stadium is surrounded by parking lots and a training pitch. Nearby is also the Jędrzej Śniadecki Specialist Hospital, along with its adjacent helicopter landing pad.