About the Lechii Stadion The Lechii is a typical lower league eastern European ground. One covered main stand offers supporters some protection from the harsh elements, which the rest of the stadium has to make do with little cover at all. There is a wide cinder track around the stadium that used to be used for speedway.
However, all of this is about to change with the construction of the Baltic Arena. Gdansk was chosen as one of the venues for the Euro 2012 tournament, and will gain a state-funded 44,000 seater stadium, which judging by the picture below doesn’t look dissimilar from the Allianz Arena in Munich.
The stadium will be located in the Letnica area of the city and will cost around 900million Zloty.
Who plays there? The sparse Stadion Lechii is home to 2nd division Lechia Gdansk. The club were formed in 1945 as a works team from the dockyards. They have had a forgettable history to date with just a single Polish Cup final win in 1983 to their name. Their best league finish was 3rd in 1956. They have played in Europe once, losing to Juventus 10-2 on aggregate in the 1983/84 European Cup Winners Cup. With a new stadium in the pipeline, funds should be made available to invest in the team and hopefully challenge once again for honours.
How to get there The Stadion Lechii is located in the north of the city in the Aniolki area of the city, close to the Great Avenue. The easiest way to reach the stadium is to catch busies 199 in the direct of Suchanino or 115 and alight at the Traugutta stop then walk 5 minutes down Mariana Smoluchowskiego.
For a better view on who plays where in Poland, go to Footiemap.com.
Getting a ticket With attendances rarely breaking the 2,000 mark, getting into see second division football at the Lechii is not difficult. Tickets are not sold in advance, so allow yourself at least 30 minutes on arrival to secure a ticket from one of the small ticket windows on the south side (city end) of the stadium. Tickets range in price from 10Zloty for an uncovered seat, to 20Zloty for a covered bench place in the main stand.
Getting around Gdansk is a fairly small city, and the heart is very compact and perfect for walking. Transport in Gdansk is safe, efficient and cheap, through a network of trams, buses and metro.
Buses connect all corners of the city, and like trams you buy your tickets from any of the little kiosks that are dotted around the town. All journeys cost the same (2.45 Zloty), irrespective of distance. Jump aboard the bus or tram and punch your little ticket in one of the little orange and brown boxes that are located onboard. A 24 hour pass costs 9.10Zloty. Keep the stamped stub for the not infrequent checks by plain-clothes inspectors
Gdnask’s small airport is located six miles south-west of the city and is linked to the centre by a regular City Bus B which runs from outside terminal building. Tickets can be bought on board from the driver and cost 4.20Zloty. A taxi will take around 20 minutes and should not cost more than 60Zloty.
Wizzair are one of the biggest airlines now in Poland and they fly to Gdansk on a daily basis from Doncaster-Sheffield, Glasgow Prestwick, Liverpool and London Luton. Ryanair complete the set by flying here from London Stansted.
About the Lechii Stadion
