Arena Jaskółka

The new arena does not look much like the old one. Arena Jaskółka sits on a wide paved square where bike stands and benches line the edge of the glass entrance.

Inside, the space opens up under a roof of exposed steel beams and ductwork. The floor is light wood, marked for handball and basketball, and there are two large screens hanging from the ceiling. The seats rise in tiers on either side, mostly grey plastic with a few blue sections near the centre. When the team used to play here, the stands often filled up, and the players came from the local academy, so the crowd knew many of the faces.

The building is owned by the city and managed by the local sports authority. It replaced Hala Jaskółka, which had served the community for decades before the rebuild. The reconstruction took two years and cost around 60 million zł, paid for by the municipality. After the opening, the handball club moved in, and the place became a regular stop on the Polish circuit.

On the days when the league schedule is tight, the halls across town can feel cramped, but this venue usually has room to breathe. The pitch is natural grass, though the indoor surface is parquet, and that difference matters when the weather turns against the outside grounds.