Stadion Miejski w Gliwicach

The roof is simple, held up by steel beams, and underneath it, rows of floodlights are visible against the sky. On the far side, a large white banner hangs above the stands, bearing the club's crest.

This is the home of the Ekstraklasa side Piast Gliwice. The place was built to replace the old Jahnstadion, which stood there for eighty years before being demolished. The new stadium opened in 2011, a project completed quickly to meet the requirements of the top flight. It is a functional space, built for the purpose of watching football.

The pitch is natural grass, kept green even when the weather turns cold. The stands are close to the action, creating a direct line of sight from the highest seat to the corner flag. When the game gets difficult, the crowd can see everything, and the players can hear the noise. The atmosphere relies on that proximity.

In 2019, the stadium received a new name, honouring a former vice-president of the city. It is a quiet moment in the history of the ground, a change of identity that happened without fanfare. The club has hosted matches in European competitions here, playing against teams from Belarus and Denmark. These games are just part of the routine. The ground does not change for them; it remains the same red and blue rectangle, waiting for the next match.