Stadion Stali Stalowa Wola – historical stadium description

The first stadium in Stalowa Wola’s short history was built along Hutnicza St. and was among the first public buildings in the city, separating the large steelworks from residential estates. In its initial configuration it had no stands or running track, only the playing field.

The track and first landfill stands (accompanied by the brick-steel main grandstand in the west) were built in 1960s, allowing crowds of up to 10,000-12,000 to watch games. From the start of its existence the stadium was home to local team KS Stalowa Wola, later renamed to Stal. The side saw its best age so far begin in 1973, as locals reached the Polish 2nd league, not falling below that level for 28 years. In 1990s, fighting in the Ekstraklasa, Stal saw games against the likes of Legia or Wisła sell out the stadium to capacity and beyond.

In 2011 complete redevelopment began, along a scheme from 2008. The phased project saw the new east stand built first, opened in early 2013. However, as funding was insufficient, further phases were halted and the scheme downscaled from 10,000 to 8,000 final capacity. Then it was scaled back again for financial and rational reasons, ending with under 4,000 seats. Instead of additional seating it was decided that funds would go to create the region's largest football academy around the stadium.

The east stand of the stadium was demolished in 2011, while the end curves and main stand gave way in late 2016 to early 2017. This is what we consider the end of the old stadium, even if a small piece of its landfill remains as the away section.