{{Short description|Polish motorcycle speedway track}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use British English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox venue | name = KS Apator Stadium | nickname = | image = File:Stadion Apatora.jpg | caption = The stadium in 2008 | image_size = | location = Broniewskiego 98, 87-100 [[Toruń]], Poland | coordinates = {{coord|53|00|56|N|18|33|42|E|}} | broke_ground = | opened = 17 August 1924 | renovated = 20 October 1957 | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = until 1939:DOK VIII<br>after 1945:City of Toruń | operator = [[KS Apator Toruń]] | surface = | construction_cost = | architect = | former_names = | tenants = [[motorcycle speedway]] | seating_capacity = 18,000 | dimensions = }}
'''KS Apator Stadium''' is a former multi-use stadium in [[Toruń]], Poland, that existed from 1924 until its demolition in 2008.
== History == === 1927 to 1945 === [[File:Otwarcie stadionu VIII DOK.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The opening of the stadium in 1927]] The stadium was built by soldiers of the 8th Sapper Regiment, as a sports ground for the District Command of the VIII Corps. It opened on 17 August 1924 and was known as the Military Stadium. The track was 500 metres long due to the needs of the military for horse riding but it had a main athletics track, in addition to two training fields. The sports club Gryf Toruń used the stadium, as did TKS Toruń, who played Polish football league matches there.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kpbc.umk.pl/dlibra/publication/12902/edition/22373/content |title=Sports Chronicle | website=Słowo Pomorskie |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref>
=== 1945 to 2008 === After [[World War II]], the stadium was no longer needed for military needs and in 1950, it was first used as a [[motorcycle speedway]] venue. Previously the [[KS Toruń|Toruń speedway team]] had used the Municipal Stadium at ul. Sportowa. In 1957, due to regulatory requirements, a major renovation took place and the new facilities opened on 20 October 1957. The stadium was now named after [[Zbigniew Raniszewski]], a Polish speedway rider who lost his life in a race in Vienna on 21 April 1956.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ms&n=7077 |title=Zbigniew Raniszewski | website=Motorsport Memorial |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref>
In 1970, 18 year-old Benedykt Błaszkiewicz died in a training crash and in 1992, 17 year-old Grzegorz Kowszewicz died on the track during training.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.hg.pl/zawodnicy/Biografie_zawodnikow/BLASZKIEWICZ_Benedykt/BLASZKIEWICZ_Benedykt.htm |title=Benedykt Błaszkiewicz |website=Speedway hg |access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.hg.pl/zawodnicy/Biografie_zawodnikow/KOWSZEWICZ_Grzegorz/KOWSZEWICZ_Grzegorz.htm |title=Grzegorz Kowszewicz |website=Speedway hg |access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref>
The stadium was a significant venue for speedway and hosted important events, including a qualifying round of the [[Speedway World Championship]] in 1985,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dlprezes.pl.tl/SPEEDWAY--_--Indywidualne-mistrzostwa-%26%23346%3Bwiata-----------k1-World-Speedway-Championship-k2-.htm |title=World Championship |website=Metal Speedway |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.org/history/ |title=World Championship | website=Speedway.org |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref> a qualifying round of the [[Speedway World Team Cup]] in 1993,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/ |title=Speedway World Cup | website=International Speedway |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref> and a semi-final of the [[Speedway World Pairs Championship]] in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/93736/zapomniane-turnieje-mistrzostwa-swiata-par-czesc-4|website=SportoweFakty|title=1987 Speedway World Paira |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref>
In 1994, the stadium was renamed again, taking the name of [[Marian Rose]] (another rider killed in a race) at the [[Stal Rzeszów Municipal Stadium]] on 19 April 1970.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ms&n=2173 |title=Marian Rose | website=Motorsport Memorial |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref> The [[KS Apator Toruń]] speedway team won the league championship while based at the stadium in 1986 and 1990.
Plans for a [[MotoArena Toruń|new speedway stadium]] arose in 2008 and the last league match held at the KS Apator Stadium was a [[Team Speedway Polish Championship]] match against [[Unia Leszno]] during the [[2008 Polish speedway season|2008 season]], played on 19 October. A few days later, on 25 October the stadium hosted the final of the Pomeranian Youth League before being sold by the city for PLN 60,270,000 to developers, who in turn built the Toruń Plaza shopping center on the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/druzynowemp.php |title=Historical Results 1948-2013 |website=Speedway History |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== See also == * [[Speedway in Poland]]
{{Motorcycle speedway tracks in Poland}}
[[Category:Speedway venues in Poland]] [[Category:Sports venues in Toruń]] [[Category:1924 establishments in Poland]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1924]] [[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2008]] [[Category:2008 disestablishments in Poland]]