National Stadium in Warsaw
The idea to build a National Stadium in Warsaw came about in the 1990s and immediately arguments arose as to its location. There were various suggestions including Białołęka, Wawer and Wesoła. Finally, though, the winning location was the terrain of the decrepit old Stadion Dziesięciolecia (10th Anniversary Stadium) in the Praga-Południe district. The decision to hold the 2012 European Football Championships in Poland and Ukraine served as a catalyst in the decision-making process.
In April 2007, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, President of Warsaw, made the final decision. The JSK Consortium of Architects presented their concept of the stadium in February 2008 and work started on-site 3 months later. To a large extent, the 10th Anniversary Stadium had been built on the post-war rubble from the east bank of the river, so the first job was to assess whether there were any unexploded bombs, human remains or other 'leftovers' of the Warsaw Uprising buried in the embankments. It was also necessary to check whether the terrain was strong enough to support the new, much larger, stadium. The results were deemed satisfactory and so building work began on 7th October 2008.
The pitch will be 8 metres higher than that of the old stadium and underneath there will be a car park for about 2000 cars. The outer facade, which you would associate with the Polish flag or maybe a kind of folk-style woven basket, is a matter of controversy among Varsovians.
The Stadium will have 2 rings of stands, seating 57 000 fans. There will be extra seating between the 2 rings as well as VIP and press boxes. Below the stands there will be conference halls, shops and an entertainment centre. The highest point is 41 metres above the level of the old 10th Anniversary pitch. The whole building is covered by a roof - the central part of which is mobile.
At the European Championships, 3 group phase matches will be played here, including the opening match, as well as 1 quarter-final and 1 semi-final. The opening ceremony will also be held here. The National Stadium will be the biggest stadium in Poland and the building work should be finished in November 2011.
City Stadium
It is a modernized stadium built in Poznan in 1968. The modernization was started in 2002 and the works were speeded up and the concept was changed due to Poland?s co-organizing Euro Cup 2012. A missing stand was added, the capacity of the stadium was increased up to 40,000. The roof system was also changed for membrane material, part of the roof above the second stand is moveable which provides appropriate illumination of the pitch. The seats are folding, which decreased the capacity from 45,000 down to 40,000. On the area of the stadium there are to be two restaurants, a bar, a coffee bar and dozens of snack bars. Also planned are a SPA, a fitness club, sport shops, a climbing wall and a number of other commercial services. The stadium was opened on 20th September 2010, hosting Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The opening match was played on 17th November 2010 between Poland and Ivory Coast.
Stadium of Wrocław
A glowing vision of JSK Architekci company. Literally, the Wroclaw Stadium built for Euro Cup 2012 is a unique stadium-lantern which is to be associated with a dynamically growing ?City of Encounters?. In the building screened with a net of Teflon-covered glass fibre, an original illumination technology was used which allows to change the colours of the elevation of the whole stadium. It provides an appropriate setting for any event held there. You can find such solutions nowhere else in Poland! Besides, the whole complex seems to be a light and transparent building for more than just sporting events. Its area is 41,017 m² including 5402 m² of green area. The stands have the capacity of 42 771 people with 68 entrances leading to them. The crowd will be assisted by 38 toilets with 700 seats, including 12 toilets for the disabled. The stadium is not just the lantern around the pitch but its infrastructure of the area of 52,753m2 with benches for visitors as well. It can be reached from the south, down Lotnicza Street (close to integrated public transport stop of tram, train and park & ride car park) and from the north where there is another tram and bus stop as well as a bus park. The best way to get there is by bike, though. Just like anywhere else!
Stadion Baltic Arena
Currently the PGE Arena Gdańsk, because that is what the Gdańsk stadium will be called for the next five years. The Polish Energy Group (Polska Grupa Energetyczna) is the title sponsor of this premises in Gdańsk Letnica, the home of the Sports Club Lechia Gdańsk. Built at a cost of 645 million zł, the stadium holds 44 000 spectators. As part of the Euro 2012 football championships, three group matches and a quarter-final match will be held here. The Gdańsk Arena surprises, not only in its shape, which is reminiscent in appearance to amber, but also the idea and finishing related to ancient shipbuilding techniques. As you know, a good ship must be stable and lightweight. Centuries ago, the builders of Gdańsk Hanza built boats with wooden framed hulls with 'stretched skin,' or made the vessel hull from wooden planks. The stadium developers have benefited from this idea. The girders and slabs of the roof structure and façade appear like ship bulkheads and planks. The Baltic Arena Gdańsk building produces an unusual effect: the upper modules become more transparent and create the impression of a moving object in the sky. Artificial paths lead to the Arena from the west and east then ascend toward the stadium, and their slopes are covered with unusual plants.