Stadium Review Part II: Poznan

Location: Bułgarska street, Poznań, Poland.

Capacity: 50,000
Capacity has increased to 50,000 from the originally planned 46,500 seats. Given the new size, the Stadium now meets the UEFA 5-star stadium rating.

Stadium Use: Soccer Only

Club: Lech Poznań
A stadium with 50,000 seats seems a bit oversized even for a popular club like Lech Poznan. Observers are worried that many of the stadiums build for the Euro 20112 are going to be too big to be filled to capacity by most Polish soccer clubs – clubs such as Slask Wroclaw and Lechia Gdansk probably don’t need a 40,000+ stadiums. Attendance in Poland is on the rise, however. And the hope is that new venues will provide better security and better amnesties, eventually attracting more people to come and see the games in person. Once new stadium infrastructure proves to reduce violent hooligan incidents, certainly a larger crowd across the board, including more families, will consider going to the soccer matches and, who knows, capacity could even double. Time will tell.


Construction Timeline: 2004-2010
The new venue will be build in the same spot as the old stadium. Technically, the construction is considered a renovation, but in reality three of the four existing stands are being completely demolished and rebuild from scratch – all in different construction stages. Construction of the new three-tier stand behind the goal already began this summer and is almost complete. Construction of the remaining three stands will carry on this year while club Lech Poznan will continue to play its home games on the construction site. Officials have 17 months left to finish the construction job if the stadium is to be ready around June 2010. Last week, however, stadium administrators and the architects had to inspect the stadium for problems with cracking/crumbling concrete. They announced that they will do everything to solve these problems before the set deadline. Depending on how server the problems are, however, construction delays are very likely to occur and cost may increase.

Architects: Modern Construction Systems Sp. z o.o.
The stadium has been through several revisions before the final concept was revealed.



Because the design is a renovation after all and because it calls for an integration of the existing fourth stand and roof with the three brand-new stadium stands and a new, modern building envelope, some people think the stadium is lacking cohesion.

Cost: $166 million

Stadium Review Part I: Warsaw

Given the recent preparation-turmoil in Poland and in Ukraine, and the subsequent possibility of Poland-Ukraine losing the rights to stage the Euro tournament in 2012 -- which would eventually render my Poland-2012 website and previous blog entries related to the Euro useless -- I though it be a good idea to turn to the stadiums for a minute. After all, most of the venues are going to be build regardless of what is going to happen to the Euro in 2012.

Let’s take a look at what is happening in Warsaw.


Capacity: 55,000
A 55.000 seater National Stadium appears small, especially when compared to smaller nations like Portugal, Scotland, or Greece that have at least one 60.000+ stadium at their disposal. However, there is probably no point in building a 60k seater in Warsaw unless the city plans to host the Olympics sometime soon. The stadium will have no regular football club tenant and these days sustainability and economics seems to prevail over sheer size. Club Legja-Warsaw will build it’s own stadium with 35 000 seats, which will become the second soccer-venue in Warsaw.

Use: Soccer only
The original stadium in Warsaw looks a lot like the venue-site in Leipzig, Germany before it was demolished. Whereas the new Zentralstadion in Leipzig was build inside the perimeters of the existing structure, thus leaving traces of history behind as seen on the image above, the new venue in Warsaw will utilize the entire site > video. The stadium will be build on top of the existing sports ground, but unlike the existing stadium, the new arena will have no running-track going around the soccer-field. Therefore, the venue will not be used to stage track and field events.

Start of Construction: Q1 2009
Besides the new stadium, the city of Warsaw also revealed plans to redevelop large areas immediately surrounding the Stadium. As part of the urban redevelopment project the city wants to build a conference and exposition center, an indoor sports Arena, a 5 star hotel, office buildings, an entertainment center, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and a new metro and regional transit hub that will connect the new neighborhood of Warsaw with downtown and its exiting surroundings.


Opening Date: Q3 2011
The new stadium will be completed in 2011. Until 2012 likely only the 5 star hotel, the conference center, the train and metro station, and the adjacent arena will be finished. The remaining projects are probably going to be completed in 2015.

Architects and Main Features: JSK - Retractable Roof, 2 Heated Tiers
JSK designed a roof very reminiscent of the roof of the Waldstadion in Frankfurt, Germany. The original shape of the stadium -- although the facade materials are completely different – reminds strongly of the stadium in Cape Town, Africa. It’s almost as if the architects tried to merge Frankfurt and Cape Town together to come up with the design for Warsaw. Nonetheless, personally the more I look at the design the more I like it: it looks a little bit like an over sized woven basket – one of the few remaining traditional handicrafts in Poland > video.

Cost: $408 million

UEFA Guidelines

There has been a lot of talk recently about Poland and Ukraine not being able to manage to comply with UEFA guidelines for the Euro 2012. Here is a list of requirements UEFA has established as part of the application process. UEFA is expecting each host country to address the following guiding principles during their preparations for the Euro. They range from organizing the tournament and providing security, to ensuring support from local and federal governments.

Finance: Each country must ensure that it has the financial support from its local and federal governments to stage the tournament.

Copyrights: Each country has the obligation to guarantee and enforce UEFA copyrights, such as broadcasting rights and rights to use the logo.

Revenues: Each country must establish regulations related to taxation of the revenues from the tournament. Each country also has to create ways to deal with work permits and taxation of technical staff involved in the organization of the tournament.

Security: Each country has to have a concept related to safety and security of the event and ensure secure border traffic. In addition, the countries have to ensure secure ticket distribution according to UEFA guidelines.

Accommodation and facilities: The countries have to have existing or planned and financially guaranteed 2-star, 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotels within 20km of the city center, officially qualifying training facilities for the teams, accredited anti-doping control laboratories and facilities for doctors and UEFA staff.

Venues: Each country has to have either existing stadiums or financially guaranteed new stadium concepts that are in compliance with UEFA requirements: adequate floodlighting systems, stadium access systems, crowd monitoring and control systems, technical rooms, administrative rooms, press conference rooms, media working area, photographers’ working area and hospitality areas.

Experience: Each country has to present the experience of host cities in the organization of large-scale events.

Infrastructure: Each country has to provide airports and transportation infrastructure in host cities that will ensure adequate public transport between the airport, the main train and bus stations, the fan zones, the stadiums and other relevant sites.

And the Euro 2012 still goes to Poland-Ukraine. For now.

Various German media sources speculated last week about Ukraine’s inability to build the necessary infrastructure to stage the Euro in 2012. Newspapers were calling for a compromise with Germany, a rescue-plan that would help Poland keep its portion of the games. In particular, Berlin and Leipzig were mentioned as possible co-host venues for the tournament, due to its close geographic location with the Polish boarder. German officials were denying such claims, however, making the Germany-Poland scenario seem to be nothing more than a rumor.

A rumor that -- just a day later – stretched beyond Berlin and Leipzig after word broke loose that also Poland would likely be unable to cope with strict Uefa guidelines for the European Championship. Prime Minister Listkiewicz had to admit that "[…] realistically we are looking at having no good roads in time for 2012." The German media’s answer to the million dollar question, what to do about it, then was simple: move it all to Germany. Stadiums are in great condition, infrastructure and transportation has already been in place for many years. Nothing against Germany, but it’s a relieve for me to be able to say that it’s not going to happen. At least for now.

Uefa president Michael Platini in Bordeaux yesterday reassured both Poland and the Ukraine that they will remain host countries for the event in 4 years from now. However, both countries were also asked to step up their preparations. Moreover, the Uefa committee will reevaluate the countries’ progress in May 2009. If things haven’t improved significantly by then Poland and the Ukraine will lose their right to stage the tournament without further ado. But not to Germany as it seems. To my surprise, Uefa’s “plan-B” candidate is Scotland, which would receive the rights to host the soccer event in this case.

The next six month will be crucial for the current host-countries. At least construction on the national in Warsaw have begun. But again, roads and transportation work is lacking behind. On another note, one also has to ask if Scotland would get the needed financial support from its government to bring existing stadiums up to specifications. After all, the Olympic games, which will cost the UK about 9.3 billion British Pounds, will be held in London the same year. Mhhh, maybe the German media was right and the Euro will go to Germany after all. Let’s not forget what a magnificent event the Germans pulled-off in 2006; shall we recall:

And the Euro 2012 Goes to: Poland-Ukraine

June 8, 2008, 8.30pm Central European Time. Location: Klagenfurt. Favorites Germany are taking on an ambitious Polish squad in the teams’ highly anticipated opening match in the Euro 2008. The stadium is filled with supporters on both sides, Poland seems ready to take on soccer-powerhouse Germany in their first ever match at a European Championship. In fact, things look promising, for the first 20 minutes that is, until of all people polish-born striker Lukas Podolski puts Germany on the path to victory. The rest is of course history. Germany mercilessly takes full advantage of Poland’s disorganization, with 18 minutes left Podolski scores a second, superb volley goal sealing Germany’s deserved 2-0 win over a disappointing Polish team. Poland’s first-ever appearance at the tournament ends in the group stages with one draw and two losses. Well, this was then.

The question for Polish football now is, will the red-and-white squad perform better at home in 2012 when Europe will be looking at the host countries a bit more closely. I’m confident they will. Of course, there is still a World Cup to be played in 2010 and after all should that turn out to be disastrous, we don’t have to worry about qualifying for the 2012 event, being one of the host countries. But four years should give the team and the Polish Soccer Federation enough time to make the necessary adjustments and to synergize as old players retire and new talents emerge.

Such is not the case with the country’s infrastructure, however. Four years to build new stadiums, roads, accommodations, training facilities, and public transportation – basically all from scratch - seems not a lot of time at all. Poland did not even have anything close to a world-class stadium until just two years ago when the new stadium in Kielce was inaugurated. Sure, a lot of things have changed since I left Europe 7 years ago. It’s truly shocking to read that real estate prices in major metropolitan areas now come close to what somebody would have to pay for a single family house in California. Salaries often times nearly doubled. People seem confident about the future. But in order to be able to host the half-a-million visitors associated with the Euro-event more things have to get done faster. According to most observers, cities are not prepared to accommodate the huge number of guests required by Uefa guidelines yet. There is especially a lack in high-end lodging. Stadium construction is moving so slowly that Uefa president Michael Platini had to travel to Poland in person to ensure things will be ready in 2012. He will decide later this month whether or not Poland’s co-host, the Ukraine, will be able to host the games at all. Of course, the Polish government will by all means try to prevent that the tournament will be taken away from them. If necessary they will take Ukraine’s part as well.

Showing the world that you are able to stage a Euro-tournament is naturally not just about the love for soccer. Poland is finally ready to show the rest of Europe that they can stand on their own feet. If South Africa can pull off the World Cup in 2010 why shouldn’t Poland be able to get things straight for 2012, right? A country that is trying so hard to emerge from its position in the shadows of Germany and Russia as yet another political and economic power in Europe. Take for instance last week’s announcement made by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk who surprised financial markets by setting a new early target date in 2011 for adopting the euro currency – a goal most economists describe as very ambitious. And then let’s not forget about the strategic partnership between the United States and Poland to build a missile defense system in Europe. A move that ties the two countries closer together at a time when the relations between the US and other European countries -- although improving -- have been, mhh, difficult to say the least.

My two-cents: it is unlikely Poland will pull-off a tournament that will match the organization and infrastructure of a, for instance, 2006-Germany. But who cares. Even the Poland I grew up in – I’m talking pre EU-membership and prior to the improvements of the past several years – already was great. Yes, things were a bit simpler, people did not have a lot of money, and public infrastructure was poor. However, it was always good times. Already back then, Poland had lots to offer: a fantastic nightlife, friendly and good-looking people, excellent food, a great environment for outdoor activities, beautiful historic city-centers. It was a place where I never got bored, a place where you could do a lot of different things without the regulations and restrictions someone might find in more developed countries.

Poland has come a long way and deserves the tournament (I cannot speak for the Ukraine). It’s a tremendous opportunity for the country to draw in more tourists and to open its doors to new foreign investors to continue developing. I know one thing for sure, if nothing goes wrong and Poland remains host-country for the 2012 tournament, I will not miss out on this historic event. Poland is going to be a lot of fun, I guarantee.