Stadion Żużlowy w Grudziądzu – stadium description

When was the current speedway stadium in Grudziądz built?

The stadium in the Municipal Park in Grudziądz existed even before World War II. After the war the facility was used by the club Nadwiślan. In the years 1966-1967 a speedway track was built at the stadium and opened on September 26, 1967. Initially, not many competitions were held there due to the lack of a speedway club in the city. However, it is worth mentioning that the tradition of speedway in Grudziądz dates back to the 1920s, when a motorcycle section was created in the Olimpia club and the first speedway track in the city was built in the place of the current Youth Facilities Bursa (Zespół Placówek Młodzieżowych Bursa).

What is the history of the GKM Grudziądz stadium?

Regular speedway competitions did not begin in Grudziądz until 1977, when the newly established Grudziądzka Sekcja Żużlowa (Grudziądz Speedway Section), an affiliate of first division club Stal Toruń, joined the league competition. In 1979, the section became independent, forming the Grudziądzki Klub Motocyklowy (Grudziadz Motorcycle Club). In 1982, the first renovation of the track was carried out, adapting it to the new regulations. Its geometry was changed, and the speedway surface was replaced with a granite one.

In 1996 GKM played in the first league (currently Ekstraliga) for the first time. The stadium was then modernised, among others, the stands were rebuilt, and the first plastic seats were installed, a new sound system was added, and parking spaces were created.

Inside the track there used to be a football pitch used by Stomil Grudziądz. In 1998 the club was dissolved; the pitch was subsequently removed, and a mini speedway track was built in its place. In 2007, after a serious accident involving Jacek Krzyżaniak, air-fence was installed on the track. In 2009 the stadium got new seating, which was brought from the decommissioned facility of Apator Toruń. From 2012 a systematic renovation of the arena was carried out.

In addition to regular league performances of GKM Grudziądz speedway riders, the stadium also hosts other competitions, among others the finals of the Polish Pairs Speedway Championship (Mistrzostwa Polski Par Klubowych), the Team Speedway Junior Polish Championship (Drużynowe mistrzostwa Polski juniorów na żużlu), the Silver Helmet (Srebrny Kask) and the Bronze Helmet (Brązowy kask). Concerts are also organised at the stadium.

What improvements have been made to the speedway stadium in Grudziądz in recent years?

Since 2012 there has been a systematic development of the stadium infrastructure. In 2012 the track floodlights were installed. In late 2014 and early 2015, the northern section of the eastern stand was rebuilt. In 2015-2016, the investment continued with the reconstruction of the remaining part of the east stand and the stand on the south curve. At the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, in turn, the west stand was renovated, and a new referee tower was built. At the turn of 2019 and 2020, the speedway track was reconstructed, which was significantly shortened (from 379 to 355 m). Further renovations were made to the stadium before the 2022 season.

What are the specifications of the speedway track in Grudziądz?

The length of the speedway track is 355 m. Its width on straights is 10.5 m and on bends it reaches 16.8 m. The surface of the track is granite. There are floodlight masts around the track, providing 1800 lx of illuminance. The track is surrounded by relatively low stands, which are missing only in the part of the northern curve. An oak tree grows there, just behind the track, and a bit further on there is the club building with a hotel and restaurant. The judges' tower is located on the west stand. The stands are not roofed and have a capacity of 8,000 spectators, of which 5,900 are seated. The seats are in blue and yellow.