Ekstraklasa minnow to double stadium size as it bids to battle big boys

Termalica Bruk-Bet Nieciecza

By Jaroslaw Adamowski
June 8 – Termalica Bruk-Bet Nieciecza, one of the two promoted teams to Poland’s top tier Ekstraklasa for the 2015/16 season, has unveiled plans to double the capacity of its stadium from the current 2,262 to at least 4,500 seats.

The ascent of Nieciecza has been rapid. A village with only 750 inhabitants in southern Poland, it is the smallest municipality to ever see its football club join the Ekstraklasa. As recently as the 2007/08 season, Termalica competed in the IV Liga, Poland’s fifth tier.

In addition to seeing its seating capacity doubled, the sports facility will be fitted with a larger parking lot, lighting and a pitch heating system. The ground imporvements will be financed by the side’s owner, local concrete producer Bruk-Bet.

With construction works scheduled to begin this summer, Termalica will most likely host the first of its Ekstraklasa home matches at the Hutnik Krakow’s stadium, about 65km from Nieciecza and which has a capacity of about 6,000.

The cost of the development at Termalica’s stadium was not disclosed by the club. Its Stadion Nieciecza KS was opened in 2007.

The second team to secure promotion to the 16-team top tier, Zaglebie Lubin, return to the Ekstraklasa following relegation to the I Liga after the 2013/14 season. The side’s major achievements include two Polish championships in 1990/1991 and 2006/2007.

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