Zbigniew Podlecki Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium in Gdańsk, Poland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Use British English|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox motorsport venue | name = Zbigniew Podlecki Stadium | image = File:Gdańsk Stadion im. Zbigniewa Podleckiego.JPG | location = Zawodników 1, 80-980 Zawodników, [[Gdańsk]], Poland | coordinates = {{coord|54|20|46|N|18|40|18|E|}} | opened = 8 May 1925 | former_names = {{lang|de|Kampfbahn Niederstadt}} | events = [[Motorcycle speedway]] | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = | surface = | operator = [[Wybrzeże Gdańsk (2006)|Wybrzeże Gdańsk]] | capacity = 10,000 | length_m = 349 }}

The '''Zbigniew Podlecki Stadium ''' ({{langx|pl|Stadion im. Zbigniewa Podleckiego}}), formerly the '''Coast Stadium''' ({{langx|pl|Stadion Wybrzeże}}), is a 10,000-capacity [[motorcycle speedway]] stadium on the eastern outskirts of [[Gdańsk]] in Poland.<ref name=GOS>{{cite web |url=https://sportgdansk.pl/obiekty/stadion-zuzlowy-im-z-podleckiego/ |title=Stadion żużlowy im. Z. Podleckiego |website=Gdański Ośrodek Sportu |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref>

The venue is used by the speedway team [[Wybrzeże Gdańsk (2006)|Wybrzeże Gdańsk]],<ref name=WG>{{cite web |url=https://www.wybrzezegdansk.pl/stadion |title=Stadion im. Zbigniewa Podleckiego |website=Wybrzeże Gdańsk speedway club |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref> who compete in the [[Team Speedway Polish Championship]].<ref>{{cite magazine |author= |title=Speedway from Around the Globe |url=|magazine=Speedway Star |pages=36–37 |location= |publisher= |date=23 July 2022 |access-date=}}</ref> It also hosts football (90 x 50 metres), concerts, shows, festivals, recreational and integration events. There is a mini speedway track next to the stadium.<ref name=GOS/>

==History== [[File:Gdańsk Stadion imienia Zbigniewa Podleckiego.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The Marathon Gate in 2012]] The stadium opened on 8 May 1925 as part of the [[Free City of Danzig]] and was built on the site of former fortifications. It was commissioned by Germans taking the name Kampfbahn Niederstadt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stadiumdb.com/news/2013/12/new_stadiums_four_more_from_poland |title=Stadion im. Zbigniewa Podleckiego |website=Stadium db |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref> When it was first used it was mainly for football and also contained an athletics track. After [[World War II]] the stands were enlarged and the Marathon Gate was built. The speedway track was opened on 11 April 1965 and underwent improvements before the 1988 season, with white granite replacing the existing track base.<ref name=WG/>

In 2009, the stadium was named after the Polish speedway rider [[Zbigniew Podlecki]], who rode for the club from 1958 to 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://speedway.com.pl/riders/zbigniew-podlecki/ |title=Zbigniew Podlecki Polska |website=Polish Speedway Database |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://nawirazu.com/zbigniew-podlecki-zmarl-13-lat-temu/ |title=ZBIGNIEW PODLECKI DIED 13 YEARS AGO |website=Na Wirazu |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref>

In recent years the stadium has undergone various renovation to meet [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] standards. On 21 August 2011, Australian [[Darcy Ward]], set a new track record of 61.28.<ref name=WG/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Speedway venues in Poland]] [[Category:1925 establishments in Poland]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1925]] [[Category:Sports venues in Gdańsk]]