Itaka Arena – stadium description

What is the Itaka Arena like in a nutshell?

Itaka Arena is a state-of-the-art football stadium with a capacity of 11,600 spectators that serves as Opole's main, representative sports facility. It was built on the northwestern outskirts of the city and meets UEFA Category III requirements. The stadium primarily serves the Odra Opole football club.

The facility was built in the form of a unified rectangular block, and its characteristic element is a white, light-permeable facade that tilts away to reveal the interior. The arched “dress” makes the mass light, attracts the eye and gives the impression of being blown by the wind.

The stadium is distinguished by a number of modern eco-friendly solutions, such as photovoltaic panels, heat pumps and rainwater tanks.

How did the new stadium in Opole come about?

Between 2000 and 2002, the old stadium on Oleska Street underwent its last major expansion: a new reinforced concrete main stand on the south side was built then. However, plans to build a new stadium appeared as early as 2007, and the impetus for it came when Poland and Ukraine were awarded the organization of Euro 2012 (the new stadium was to become a training base for one of the national teams).

The stadium for Euro 2012 was ultimately not built, and instead plans were made to expand the Oleska Street stadium with another new stand, this time on the north side. The investment was slowed down by protests from residents, and the high cost of the new stand (more than PLN 50 million) prompted a return to consider building a new stadium, which according to calculations at the time would cost a maximum of PLN 100 million.

When were plans for a new stadium in Opole hatched?

An ardent supporter of the construction of a new stadium was Arkadiusz Wiśniewski, who was elected as the new mayor of the city in 2014. During his first term in office, an expert team for the construction of the stadium was formed, consisting of officials, architects, representatives of football structures, the Odra Opole club and fans.

At the same time, Odra Opole was rebuilding its position after declaring bankruptcy in 2009. In 2016, the team was promoted to the II Liga (third division), and just a year later to the I Liga (second division). On June 3, 2017, during a fete to celebrate promotion to the I Liga, Arkadiusz Wiśniewski again announced the construction of a new stadium.

On January 24, 2018, Mayor Wiśniewski announced more details about the investment. The new stadium was to be built on Północna Street, near the Exhibition and Convention Center and Karolinka Shopping Center. Meanwhile, an aquapark was planned to replace the old stadium on Oleska Street.

When was the project for a new stadium in Opole conceived?

In March 2018, a competition for the architectural concept of the new stadium was announced, organized by the city in cooperation with the Association of Polish Architects. A number of guidelines that were established during the work of an expert team, were set before the participants of the competition.

The winning concept was announced on August 14, 2018. Out of 11 submitted projects, the proposal of Studio 90 Architekci from Warsaw, prepared together with GMT Sp. z o.o. from Mysłowice (author team: Piotr Czarnecki, Jędrzej Przyłuski, Jarosław Jachna, Bartłomiej Tarnas and Tomasz Pilch) was selected.

The winning team of architects was invited to develop the full design documentation (the contract was signed in December 2018). The project was supposed to be ready in October 2019, but work on the documentation got prolonged, and the deadline was postponed several times.

In the meantime, the COVID-19 pandemic also broke out, and related problems meant that the city was in no hurry to complete the project. Finally, on September 24, 2020, Arkadiusz Wiśniewski announced that the design documentation and construction permit had been received.

The project of Itaka Arena can be seen on a separate subpage

When was the contractor for the new stadium in Opole selected?

Initially it was assumed that the new stadium would cost a maximum of PLN 100 million, although before the tender was held, the project's budget was raised to PLN 180 million. The investment was to be carried out by the municipal company Zakład Komunalny w Opolu, thanks to which the city was to be able to reclaim tax (VAT).

The tender for the construction of the stadium was announced on December 28, 2020. The bids were opened on July 19, 2021, and three entities were willing to build the stadium, but each bid exceeded the city's budget.

On September 30, 2021, the City Council agreed to allocate additional funds, so that on October 4, 2021 the tender was awarded, and the winner was Mirbud, which offered the lowest price – PLN 208.7 million (PLN 159 million excluding VAT).

When was the new stadium in Opole built?

The contract with Mirbud was signed on December 14, 2021, and even before the end of 2021, the construction site was handed over to the contractor. The new stadium was to be built within three years.

Surveying work began in January 2022, and the first earthworks began in March 2022. On June 2, 2022, a symbolic cornerstone laying was performed with the participation of the president of the Polish Football Association, Cezary Kulesza.

The contractor completed the investment on schedule, and the official handover of the finished stadium to the management of the Zakład Komunalny w Opolu took place on December 13, 2024.

A report on the construction of Itaka Arena can be seen on a separate subpage

How much did it cost to build the new stadium in Opole?

The cost of constructing the stadium, including parking lots and associated infrastructure, amounted to PLN 230 million at the end. The city recovered about PLN 45 million of VAT from the investment, so the real cost incurred is PLN 185 million.

What address did the new stadium in Opole receive?

The street where the stadium was built was named after Leonard Olejnik, the founder and first president of Odra Opole. The facility was given the address of 1 Leonard Olejnik Street.

What name was given to the new stadium in Opole?

Just before the inauguration of the facility, the title sponsor was announced, which became Itaka, the largest travel agency in Poland, with its headquarters in Opole. The five-year agreement was signed on March 19, 2025, and the stadium will be named Itaka Arena. Previously, the name Stadion Opolski was used throughout the development.

When did the new stadium in Opole open?

The grand opening of the new stadium took place on the first day of spring, March 21, 2025. The inauguration included musical concerts and pyrotechnic displays, and the highlight was Odra Opole's friendly match against 1. FC Magdeburg (1–1). Tickets for the event were sold out within 90 minutes.

The choice of rival for the opening match was no coincidence: 1. FC Magdeburg is Odra's only rival in the UEFA Cup, in which the team played in the 1977/78 season. However, the inauguration did not take place without incidents – there were some clashes between fans and security during the event, as well as the vandalization of toilets.

What does Itaka Arena look like?

The facility was built in the form of a unified rectangular block, with single-level stands surrounding the pitch. The defining element of the stadium is a white, light-transmitting PTFE membrane facade that deflects and welcomes spectators.

Thanks to the curving membrane, the mass is light, eye-catching and appears to be torn up by the wind. The “dress” raised on four sides is a reference to the famous amphitheater in Opole, where the roof over the stage has a similar curvature. At night, the membrane can be illuminated in different colors.

For better visibility, the first rows of the stands have been raised relative to the pitch. The auditorium is equipped with folding seats in blue and red (the club's colors), which on the eastern stand form the inscription “Opole”. Video screens are placed in two of the corners.

The main stand is located on the west side. Twenty-two exclusive boxes have been placed in this stand, and a glass-enclosed pavilion with an extensive backroom is adjacent to it from the outside. Its facilities include six locker rooms, training spaces, wellness rooms, and an 800 sqm banquet hall in the VIP area.

Underneath the rest of the stands are technical and utility rooms, medical aid rooms, 11 catering outlets and restrooms.

The stands can accommodate 11,600 spectators and are fully roofed. The ends of the roof are glazed, and racks of LED spotlights, providing 2,000 lux illumination, are distributed along its edges. The facility meets UEFA Category III requirements and is accessible to people with disabilities.

What eco-friendly solutions have been used at Itaka Arena?

A number of solutions in line with the ideas of sustainable development have been applied to the stadium, making it one of the most “green” in Poland. On the roof are photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of about 280 kW, which on an average sunny day are able to provide 100% of the facility's electricity needs.

The facility is also equipped with two heat pumps with a capacity of 1.5 MW each – the power of one is sufficient to heat the turf, while the other pump handles the heating of the premises.

In addition, the facility has four rainwater tanks, each with a capacity of 100 cubic meters. The rainwater is used to water the turf and the greenery around the stadium, as well as to flush toilets. In case of drought, the stadium also has a well, about 100 meters deep.

Special homes for insects and small animals have also been placed around the stadium.

Where is the Itaka Arena located?

The facility is located on the northwestern outskirts of Opole, near the junction of national roads 45 and 46, about 5 km from the city center. Along with the stadium, parking lots for 800 cars have been built, but fans coming for the matches can also use the parking lots next to the Karolinka Shopping Center. There is also access to the stadium by city buses.

Two ticket office compounds operate outside the stadium, and 11,000 plants have been planted in the squares around the venue.

In the vicinity of the venue are, among others, the Exhibition and Convention Center, the Science and Technology Park, the CTPark Opole industrial park and the Karolinka Shopping Center. In 2010, the so-called Opole Sports Center was also built here, consisting primarily of three training fields.

What purpose does the Itaka Arena serve?

The Itaka Arena is a football-specific stadium, whose main host is Odra Opole. The facility can also be used to organize other sports and cultural events (especially concerts). As the largest stadium in Opole, it serves as the main, representative sports facility of the city and the entire region.