Stadionul Municipal Sibiu – stadium description

How did the construction of the new Stadionul Municipal in Sibiu begin?

The old Stadionul Municipal in Sibiu has stood since 1927. It has been modernised a number of times over the years, with the largest works carried out in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when earth embankments were first built around the running track, followed by the construction of a new reinforced concrete main stand.

In December 2017, the city signed a contract to upgrade the main stand, which has functioned since 1982. The contractor was Construcții SA and the project was worth 6.93 million Romanian lei. Various problems arose during the modernisation work and the completion date was postponed twice. Eventually, the contract was terminated in April 2019, but the vast majority of the work was already done at that time.

In addition to the upgrade of the main stand, the works also included the removal of most of the earth embankments around the running track (with the exception of the south-west curve), the replacement of the pitch turf and the construction of a new athletics track. These works were intended to be the first stage of an extensive modernisation of the entire facility.

When did the complete reconstruction of Stadionul Municipal in Sibiu begin?

In August 2020, the city signed a contract with the CON-A company for a major expansion of the stadium. The company is based near Sibiu, but has already gained a nationwide reputation, having previously built new stadiums in Cluj-Napoca, Craiova and Târgu Jiu, among others. The initial value of the contract was 136.5 million lei; at the end, the amount had risen to just under 219.5 million lei. The expansion was financed from the municipal budget. Construction work began in September 2020.

What were the objectives of the redevelopment of Stadionul Municipal in Sibiu?

As part of the project, completely new stands were to be built around the running track. Only the recently renovated main stand was to be retained, but it was to undergo further modernisation, including a new roof and façade, coherent with the concept of the new stands. The role of the main stand was to be taken over by the stand on the opposite side, where new changing rooms, VIP areas and extensive backstage facilities were planned.

For the duration of the extension, the facility was taken out of use and FC Hermannstadt, which played its matches there, temporarily moved to the Gaz Metan stadium in Mediaș.

Following expert assessments, it became apparent that the recently renovated main stand did not meet the tightened safety standards for seismic resistance at the end of 2019. The decision was therefore taken to partially demolish it, leaving only part of the reinforced concrete skeleton. Only after the structure had been reinforced was the rebuilding started. In practice, this meant that a completely new stadium was erected almost from scratch in place of the old one.

When was the new Stadionul Municipal in Sibiu opened?

A modest opening ceremony for the stadium, attended among others by the mayor of Sibiu, Astrid Fodor, and the president of the Romanian football federation, Răzvan Burleanu, took place on December 6, 2022. A day later, the facility was opened to the public for tours. On December 10, 2022, the first league match was played at the stadium, in which the hosts defeated league table leader Farul Constanta 4:0.

What events take place at Stadionul Municipal in Sibiu?

The stadium is hosted by the FC Hermannstadt team. The club was founded in 2015, filling the gap left by Voința Sibiu, which was dissolved in 2012. The team took the city's name in German, which has caused some controversy. The club quickly gained further promotions and already made its debut in Liga I in 2018. In addition to football, the venue is suitable for other sporting and non-sporting events, such as concerts.

What are the characteristics of Stadionul Municipal in Sibiu?

The stadium has a football and athletics layout, although the 400-metre long running track in the arena has only four lanes, which practically excludes the possibility of holding any major athletics competitions. Surrounding the running track are stands, with a total capacity of 13,013 spectators. The first rows of most of the auditorium are located high above the turf (only the first row of the north-west stand is located slightly lower, although also clearly above the level of the pitch).

The main stand is located on the south-east side. It has 302 VIP seats and is equipped with extensive back facilities. The sections on the opposite side (the former main stand) is separated from the others. A gymnasium is located underneath it. In addition, a boxing gym is located underneath the stand on the south curve. The stadium has facilities for wheelchair users and their companions. The facility is also equipped with a CCTV system.

The auditorium is equipped with plastic seats with backrests, which form a mosaic consisting of the colours black, red and grey (on the stands along the pitch) or white (on the arches). The stadium is equipped with two video screens. The pitch has a hybrid surface and has a heating, irrigation and drainage system.

The spectator seats are mostly covered. The roofs of the individual stands do not connect near the corners, so that each stand has its own individual section of shelter. Under the roof, LED floodlights and laser projectors are placed. From the outside, the stands are covered by a grey metallic façade, varied by numerous triangular deformations.

The stadium has been equipped with a number of environmentally friendly and cost-effective solutions to optimise the consumption of utilities and the use of heating. When selecting equipment, particular attention was paid to limited energy consumption. Lighting and air conditioning are controlled by a smart control system.

The venue is located south of the city centre, next to the Sub Arini park. Right next to the stadium is a sports hall and a training pitch with an artificial surface.