Baltic Arena
Encyclopedia
The PGE Arena Gdańsk (ˈpɛ ˈgʲɛ ˈɛ aˈrɛna ˈgdaɲsk), previously called the Baltic Arena, is a football
stadium
in Gdańsk
, Poland
. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Lechia Gdańsk
. The Stadium is located on Generations of Lechia Gdańsk street in the northern part of the city (Letnica district). The capacity of the stands is 43,615 spectators, all seated and roofed. PGE Arena Gdańsk is the largest arena in Ekstraklasa and the third one in the country (after National Stadium and Silesia Stadium
).
Construction of the stadium started in 2008 and was completed mid-2011. The opening match was between Lechia Gdańsk and Cracovia and ended with 1–1 draw. The first international match, Poland - Germany, took place on 6 September 2011 and ended 2-2. The latter was relocated from Warsaw
because the National Stadium was not ready. PGE Arena is used by Lechia Gdańsk since “White-green” relocated there form MOSiR Stadium (Gdańsk)
.
The stadium is also one of the designated venues for the finals of Euro 2012. It will be hosted four matches of the tournament. Three matches in Group C and one quarterfinal are to be played here.
Since 2010 the official name of the stadium is PGE Arena Gdańsk on the basis of a sponsorship agreement with Polska Grupa Energetyczna
(PGE Group).
which has long been extracted on the Baltic
coast. Whole roof construction is based on 82 girders. Roof structure has totally area of 44 000. The facade is covered with 18 000 plates of polycarbonate
, in 6 shades, with a total area of 4.5 hectares. Two logos (placed on the western and eastern side of the stadium), are made in LED technology
, with a height of 8 meters and length of 35 meters.
The pitch has dimensions of 105x68 meters, and its distance from the grandstand is 10.5 m behind the goals, and 8.5 m from the side lines. PGE Arena grandstands under the standards of FIFA and UEFA are covered, the center which is hovering over the field however will be uncovered. The issue of installing a sliding roof was considered, but the idea was abandoned due to costs and limited time to complete the construction. Remaining space is reserved for the other participants of the event (staff, etc.). The stadium meets the criteria for UEFA Category 4.
At the stadium there are 40 boxes behind glass where full catering is provided (so-called sky-boxes). Eight of theme have area of 60 m² and the remaining 32 have an area of 30 m². In addition to the sky-boxes, stadium offers 1383 seats of higher standard (VIP places) for the more affluent guests. Each of them is equipped with comfortable seat and located just below the sky-boxes. Both sky-boxes and VIP places have a separate entrance with dedicated foyer.
The seats on the PGE Arena was provided by Polish
company Forum Seating belonging to the Nowy Styl Group located in Krosno
. Moreover the stadium has 50 extra seats for the disabled persons.
(PGE) for 35 million złoty (about 8.5 million euro
) for a duration of five years. The city of Gdańsk sold the naming rights in order to cover some of the costs of its construction. The only stipulation was that the name must include the word "Arena". The oil firm Lotos
and PGE were the final competitors for the sponsorship contract which also includes the display of the firm’s logo in at least two locations at the top of the stadium, along with internal advertisements. The stadium was originally known as the Baltic Arena.
On 2 April 2008, work began on preparing the ground for the construction of the stadium, including liquidation of allotments, felling of trees and shrubs. On 15 December 2008 work started on the ground exchange and density of land for the construction of the stadium.
The official opening of the offers from companies willing to build new stadium took place on 25 march 2009. The offers prices varies form about 522 mln zł to 635 mln zł. Two days later contract with company who introduced the cheapest offer was signed. It was consortium of companies: Hydrobudowa Polska S.A, Hydrobudowa 9, Alpine Bau Deutschland AG Berlin, Alpine Bau GmbH Austria, Alpine Construction Polska Sp. z o.o.
One of the most important days in history of PGE Arena was 28 May 2009 when the main construction began. In mid-July the cornerstone was laid. Within the next year main steel and concrete structure was completed and the ceremony of topping out took place at 24 July 2010.
The original date of completion of the stadium was the end of 2010. On 9 June 2011, the match between National teams of Poland and France was planned. Due to security reasons, the match was moved to Warsaw.
Stadium was opened at 19 July 2011. The first official football event on PGE Arena Gdańsk took place on August 14 2011. The match between Lechia Gdańsk and Cracovia ended in 1:1 draw and the first goalscorer on the new stadium was Fred Benson.
played only 1 match on the new PGE Arena Gdańsk. The match with Germany national football team
was scheduled to be played in Warsaw
but it has been relocated to Gdańsk
because the National Stadium was not yet ready.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Lechia Gdańsk
Lechia Gdansk
Lechia Gdańsk is a Polish football club based in Gdańsk, Poland. The club's name comes from Lechia, a poetic name for Poland. The club was founded by people expelled from Lwów, who were supporters of Lechia Lwów. Founded in 1945, Lechia was a powerhouse in Polish football during the mid-1950s...
. The Stadium is located on Generations of Lechia Gdańsk street in the northern part of the city (Letnica district). The capacity of the stands is 43,615 spectators, all seated and roofed. PGE Arena Gdańsk is the largest arena in Ekstraklasa and the third one in the country (after National Stadium and Silesia Stadium
Silesia Stadium
Silesian Stadium is a sport stadium located between Chorzów and Katowice, Silesia, Poland. It opened on 22 July 1956 and has since hosted crowds of over 120,000 for both football matches and motorcycle speedway world championships...
).
Construction of the stadium started in 2008 and was completed mid-2011. The opening match was between Lechia Gdańsk and Cracovia and ended with 1–1 draw. The first international match, Poland - Germany, took place on 6 September 2011 and ended 2-2. The latter was relocated from Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
because the National Stadium was not ready. PGE Arena is used by Lechia Gdańsk since “White-green” relocated there form MOSiR Stadium (Gdańsk)
MOSiR Stadium
MOSiR Stadion is a multi-purpose stadium in Wodzisław Śląski, Poland. It is currently used mostly for football matches and served as the home stadium of Odra Wodzisław. The stadium has a capacity of 7,000 people. In 2011, Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała began using the stadium while their own ground...
.
The stadium is also one of the designated venues for the finals of Euro 2012. It will be hosted four matches of the tournament. Three matches in Group C and one quarterfinal are to be played here.
Since 2010 the official name of the stadium is PGE Arena Gdańsk on the basis of a sponsorship agreement with Polska Grupa Energetyczna
Polska Grupa Energetyczna
Polska Grupa Energetyczna is a state-owned power company and the largest power producing company in Poland. PGE is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the WIG20 index.-History:The PGE Group has its origin in the establishment of Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A...
(PGE Group).
Overall
This stadium is a football-specific stadium, which means that the turf is not ejected or changeable. For that reason it also lacks an athletics track (running). The stadium has dimensions 236 meters long, 203 meters wide and 45 meters height. PGE Area’s exterior is designed to resemble amberAmber
Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
which has long been extracted on the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
coast. Whole roof construction is based on 82 girders. Roof structure has totally area of 44 000. The facade is covered with 18 000 plates of polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...
, in 6 shades, with a total area of 4.5 hectares. Two logos (placed on the western and eastern side of the stadium), are made in LED technology
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
, with a height of 8 meters and length of 35 meters.
The pitch has dimensions of 105x68 meters, and its distance from the grandstand is 10.5 m behind the goals, and 8.5 m from the side lines. PGE Arena grandstands under the standards of FIFA and UEFA are covered, the center which is hovering over the field however will be uncovered. The issue of installing a sliding roof was considered, but the idea was abandoned due to costs and limited time to complete the construction. Remaining space is reserved for the other participants of the event (staff, etc.). The stadium meets the criteria for UEFA Category 4.
Capacity
Stadium capacity is 43,615 seats during league matches. However the total number of seats (gross) is approximately 44,000. During the UEFA European Football Championship in 2012 capacity will be reduced to approximately 40 000 seats.At the stadium there are 40 boxes behind glass where full catering is provided (so-called sky-boxes). Eight of theme have area of 60 m² and the remaining 32 have an area of 30 m². In addition to the sky-boxes, stadium offers 1383 seats of higher standard (VIP places) for the more affluent guests. Each of them is equipped with comfortable seat and located just below the sky-boxes. Both sky-boxes and VIP places have a separate entrance with dedicated foyer.
The seats on the PGE Arena was provided by Polish
Polish
Polish may refer to:* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe* Polish language* Poles, people from Poland* Polish * Polish cuisinePolish may refer to:...
company Forum Seating belonging to the Nowy Styl Group located in Krosno
Krosno
Krosno is a town and county in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland with 47,455 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009.Notably Krosno is the site of the first oil well in the world....
. Moreover the stadium has 50 extra seats for the disabled persons.
Name
In December 2009, the stadium’s name was purchased by the Polish Energy GroupPolska Grupa Energetyczna
Polska Grupa Energetyczna is a state-owned power company and the largest power producing company in Poland. PGE is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the WIG20 index.-History:The PGE Group has its origin in the establishment of Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A...
(PGE) for 35 million złoty (about 8.5 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
) for a duration of five years. The city of Gdańsk sold the naming rights in order to cover some of the costs of its construction. The only stipulation was that the name must include the word "Arena". The oil firm Lotos
Grupa LOTOS
Grupa LOTOS S.A. is a vertically integrated oil concern from Poland based in Gdańsk. The company is listed in the Polish index WIG 20. Its main activity branches are: crude oil production, refining and marketing of oil products....
and PGE were the final competitors for the sponsorship contract which also includes the display of the firm’s logo in at least two locations at the top of the stadium, along with internal advertisements. The stadium was originally known as the Baltic Arena.
Construction history
The stadium was built specifically for the UEFA European Football Championship, which will be held in 2012 in Poland. The first conceptual design of the stadium the city of Gdańsk presented before the tournament host's choice. On 31 January 2008 architect who had designed the stadium was selected. It was a company of Rhode-Kellermann-Wawrowsky from Düsseldorf, who designed such stadiums like Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen and the AWD-Arena in Hannover. First part of construction documents consisted of 92 volumes and the second one included next 137 volumes.On 2 April 2008, work began on preparing the ground for the construction of the stadium, including liquidation of allotments, felling of trees and shrubs. On 15 December 2008 work started on the ground exchange and density of land for the construction of the stadium.
The official opening of the offers from companies willing to build new stadium took place on 25 march 2009. The offers prices varies form about 522 mln zł to 635 mln zł. Two days later contract with company who introduced the cheapest offer was signed. It was consortium of companies: Hydrobudowa Polska S.A, Hydrobudowa 9, Alpine Bau Deutschland AG Berlin, Alpine Bau GmbH Austria, Alpine Construction Polska Sp. z o.o.
One of the most important days in history of PGE Arena was 28 May 2009 when the main construction began. In mid-July the cornerstone was laid. Within the next year main steel and concrete structure was completed and the ceremony of topping out took place at 24 July 2010.
The original date of completion of the stadium was the end of 2010. On 9 June 2011, the match between National teams of Poland and France was planned. Due to security reasons, the match was moved to Warsaw.
Stadium was opened at 19 July 2011. The first official football event on PGE Arena Gdańsk took place on August 14 2011. The match between Lechia Gdańsk and Cracovia ended in 1:1 draw and the first goalscorer on the new stadium was Fred Benson.
UEFA Euro 2012
The stadium is one of the venues for the UEFA Euro 2012. Three group matches and one quarterfinal are to be played here.Matches of the Polish national team
So far, Poland national football teamPoland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
played only 1 match on the new PGE Arena Gdańsk. The match with Germany national football team
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
was scheduled to be played in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
but it has been relocated to Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
because the National Stadium was not yet ready.
| Nr | Competition | Date | Opponent | Attendance | Result | Scorers for Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friendly | 6 September 2011 | 38000 | 2:2 (0:0) | Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski is a Polish footballer who plays for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund as a striker, having previously played for Delta Warszawa, Legia Warsaw, Znicz Pruszków and Lech Poznań... , Jakub Błaszczykowski |
|