Lodz enters into deal for third stadium

Article posted by Coliseum, June 14^th, 2019

Image: UM Łódź

Poland’s third largest city Lodz recently entered into a contract to build its third major stadium. As per the deal, the 18,000-seater new stadium should be constructed and delivered in less than three years but the contractors have apparently assured they will aim to finish it even earlier.

Lodz mayor Hanna Zdanowska signed the design+build contract with Mirbud, the company selected as preferred bidder. It is also to be noticed that the stadium’s main stand was completed in 2015, but three remaining sides remained unfinished due to procedural deadlock.

The latest deal was struck after a prolonged process as well. The initial construction tender for remaining stands, launched last summer, was cancelled due to offers exceeding the city’s financial capacity. The second tender, launched earlier this year, also ended up with bidders going above the financial ceiling. However, the city decided to increase the budget from PLN 95 million to 129 million (from €22.2m to €30.2m) as offered by Mirbud.

Mirbud is the same company which delivered the main grandstand. It also has equipment and workers available locally, which gave it a major advantage during the bidding process. Chairman Jerzy Mirgos also had some promising news for ŁKS and its supporters.

The contract stipulates delivery in 36 months. But Mirgos opined that it shouldn’t take even that long. The complete 18,000-seat stadium might be ready half a year or even a year earlier. This is possible thanks to partial planning permission still being valid from the first phase, completed in 2015.

“Already then we had permission for two more stands, but they weren’t delivered. That’s why we have green light for three quarters of the project and construction should go on at the same time as design. We will simultaneously apply for permission for the last stand.” Mirgos said.

The construction work should begin in September, after the site should be prepared during the summer. Mirbud guaranteed that the stadium will be available throughout reconstruction.

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