For years, Poznań’s Arena was one of the city's familiar places for big indoor events, from sports and concerts to other large public gatherings. Now, after a long period out of use, the building has moved another step closer to a possible return.
The city has signed a contract for the preparation of the documentation needed for the planned redevelopment of the Arena. The work will include a Functional and Utility Programme and a concept for the refurbishment of the building, as well as an investment cost estimate.
It is an important planning stage, rather than the start of construction. The documentation is expected to establish what needs to be done to bring the hall up to current technical and safety standards and will eventually be used to prepare a tender for the project on a "design and build" basis.
The familiar exterior is expected to stay
One of the key aspects of the plans is that the Arena's distinctive appearance is not expected to change.
The main work will take place inside the building, where the aim is to bring the venue up to modern standards. That includes improving its technical and functional infrastructure, energy efficiency, accessibility and safety.
The preliminary plans envisage a capacity of between 3,500 and 4,500 people. The final figure, along with the precise layout and facilities, will be determined through the design process now getting underway.
For Poznań residents who remember the Arena as a busy events venue, that would give the building a very different future from its current state.
From 1970s landmark to modern events venue
The Arena was built between 1972 and 1974 to a design by architect Jerzy Turzeniecki. Its unusual, curved structure has long made it one of the most recognisable buildings around Park Kasprowicza.
Its location is part of its appeal. The hall sits within one of Poznań's best-known green spaces, close to Łazarz and the city centre, and its distinctive silhouette has remained largely unchanged for more than five decades.
Today, however, the building is not being used due to its technical condition. Any return to regular events therefore depends on substantial work behind the familiar exterior.
The redevelopment is intended to make the Arena suitable for contemporary sporting and cultural events while retaining the character of the original building.
The newly appointed design team is expected to complete its work in the second quarter of 2027. As well as developing the redevelopment concept and Functional and Utility Programme, it will be responsible for obtaining the necessary conditions, opinions and agreements required at this stage.
There is still some way to go before work on the building itself can begin. The final cost, construction timetable and detailed scope of the redevelopment have not yet been announced.
For now, the significant change is that the Arena is no longer simply a building waiting for a future decision. The process of working out what its next chapter should look like is formally underway.
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