HUNTERS PSŻ Stadium in Poznań will be renovated. Jakub Kozaczyk: It should be done wisely

After tough times for HUNTERS PSŻ in Poznań, when the club was on the brink of dissolution, a period has come in which speedway in the capital of Greater Poland is gaining a stronger position. After promotion to METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga, Poznań settled on the league’s second division and set ambitious goals for themselves. One of them is the renovation of the stadium, which, as we already know, will undergo a small modernization. The club president, Jakub Kozaczyk, told us about this and other important matters for HUNTERS PSŻ.

In the modern history of Poznań’s speedway, the most important success for HUNTERS PSŻ was undoubtedly the promotion to the backup of the PGE Ekstraliga achieved in 2022. In the following season, the team, however, finished last – eighth place in the league, and last year sensationally made it to the play-offs, where they were only eliminated at the semi-final stage by the future champion of the competition – INNPRO ROW Rybnik. This caused speedway to become increasingly popular in the fifth-largest city in Poland.

So what is the current position of speedway in Poznań? – Speedway is the number two sport in Poznań. Lech Poznań is in first place, which is unparalleled. The next discipline is precisely speedway, because we have an average of four or five thousand people at each match, and the next sport in line is probably basketball, which about three hundred or four hundred people attend. Back in 2021, when PSŻ was bankrupt, attendance was not great either. Now it is several times higher – says Jakub Kozaczyk.

As we can learn, however, the growing attendance does not significantly translate to season ticket sales. – There isn’t a trend for buying season tickets with us, because every fan knows they will find a place at the stadium. We need to learn the awareness that buying a season ticket is not for saving money, but to support the club during the winter period.

Along with the increasing number of fans, the club is also attracting more sponsors wanting to support the HUNTERS PSŻ team. – It’s true. There are more and more sponsors, and our budget is growing every year. I would like it to grow so much that with the appropriate stadium infrastructure, we can aim for PGE Ekstraliga – announces the president.

As Jakub Kozaczyk further acknowledges, the relationship between the club and the city has significantly improved. – At the moment, our relations with the city are at a fantastic level. Back in 2021, no one wanted to talk to us, but now these relations are very good and let’s hope it stays that way – he believes.

The result of this is a recent grant from the city allocated for the modernization of the stadium, which was undoubtedly the club’s biggest challenge. After many efforts by HUNTERS PSŻ activists, the facility will finally get a refresh. – Now the city council has decided to allocate 13 million zlotys for the renovation of the “Golęcin” complex. Tender procedures are starting, and everything will be completed as quickly as possible. However, the most important thing is to do it wisely, not quickly, because quickly does not mean well – explains the club president. – Poznań is a city with potential close to that of Wrocław. Look at BETARD SPARTA, where only a few thousand fans attended matches at the old stadium. Then that stadium was renovated, and it began to fill regularly. Today, fans are comfortable – they want to come to matches, have a nicely lit venue, a roof when it rains, or shade when the sun shines. I believe that if we had a stadium even somewhat similar to the one in Wrocław, it would also fill – says the 39-year-old.

In a season-summary interview from 2024 for ekstraliga.pl, Jakub Kozaczyk emphasized how important the speedway school is to him. At what stage of development is it currently? – There are more and more trainees in the school. Practices are conducted five times a week in swimming pools, gym halls, flyparks – whatever they want. We want to attract young people here, but to do that, we need some success. Someone needs to earn a license and show themselves. We need to ensure that after this success comes a trend for speedway. One person must achieve something for others to follow. You could say we are in a speedway wasteland because this club has, with breaks, 20 years, and never has anyone established a school here – he said.

When will Poznań fans see the effects of the conducted school in the form of a local speedway rider? – This year there must be a homegrown rider, and there is no possibility that there won’t be. We will do everything to make it happen – concluded Kozaczyk.

Marcin Rusewicz