Zbigniew Podlecki Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Zbigniew Podlecki Stadium
Location:Zawodników 1, 80-980 Zawodników, Gdańsk, Poland
Coordinates:54.3461°N 18.6717°W
Opened:8 May 1925
Tenants:Motorcycle speedway
Capacity:10,000
Length Km:(349 metres) 0.349

The Zbigniew Podlecki Stadium (Polish Stadion im. Zbigniewa Podleckiego) formerly the Stadion Wybrzeże, is a 10,000-capacity motorcycle speedway stadium on the eastern outskirts of Gdańsk in Poland.[1]

The venue is used by the speedway team Wybrzeże Gdańsk,[2] who compete in the Team Speedway Polish Championship.[3] It also hosts football (90 x 50 metres), concerts, shows, festivals, recreational and integration events. There is a mini speedway track next to the stadium.[1]

History

The stadium opened on 8 May 1925 as part of the Free City of Danzig and was built on the site of former fortifications. It was commissioned by Germans taking the name Kampfbahn Niederstadt.[4] When it was first used it was mainly for football and also contained an athletics track. After World War II the stands were enlarged and the Marathon Gate was built. The speedway track was opened on 11 April 1965 and underwent improvements before the 1988 season, with white granite replacing the existing track base.[2]

In 2009, the stadium was named after the Polish speedway rider Zbigniew Podlecki, who rode for the club from 1958 to 1972.[5] [6]

In recent years the stadium has undergone various renovation to meet FIM standards. On 21 August 2011, Australian Darcy Ward, set a new track record of 61.28.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stadion żużlowy im. Z. Podleckiego . Gdański Ośrodek Sportu . 10 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Stadion im. Zbigniewa Podleckiego . Wybrzeże Gdańsk speedway club . 10 November 2023.
  3. . Speedway from Around the Globe . Speedway Star . 36–37 . 23 July 2022 .
  4. Web site: Stadion im. Zbigniewa Podleckiego . Stadium db . 10 November 2023.
  5. Web site: Zbigniew Podlecki Polska . Polish Speedway Database . 10 November 2023.
  6. Web site: ZBIGNIEW PODLECKI DIED 13 YEARS AGO . Na Wirazu . 10 November 2023.