Still in this year, on 23 December, the first stage of the tender for the Contractor to perform the reconstruction of the Silesian Stadium will be announced. On 10 December the owner of the stadium - Śląskie Voivodeship self-government - will receive the construction design.

On Wednesday Marcin Stolarz, Director of the Office for EURO 2012 Preparations in Śląskie Voivodeship Marshall's Office, informed PAP that, the first stage of the tender for the Contractor of the stadium reconstruction is planned to be completed at the end of March.

“The first stage foresees to select a narrow group of companies, from which in the second stage we will select the Contractor" - said Stolarz. He added that the construction works at the stadium shall commence after the tender is finalised, they are planned to start on 1 July.

“The Contractor will most probably start with the demolition of the western earth bank. It is related to a change in the design which concerns the construction of a western tribune, which will be similar to the already existing eastern one. The change in the design resulted in minor changes in the works schedule" - recollected Stolarz.

A ready construction design, drawn up by a German architect company GMP, will be submitted to the Key Contract Engineer, representing the Śląskie Voivodeship self-government, on 10 December. Then also the Chorzów municipality, where the Silesian Stadium is situated, should receive an application for a construction permit.

Apart from a roof over the tribunes for spectators, the reconstruction estimated by the Designer for the amount of about PLN 360 million, shall also cover, change of the eastern tribune, construction of new parking places, new market stalls and toilets. There will be 741 seats for journalists, and 240 for radio and TV commentators, 132 places for wheelchairs are also planned.

Moreover, the exit roads and gateways of the facility will be made more passable, sanitary and catering back-up facilities will be constructed, sound and lightning systems will be installed, new seats will be created, skybox and rooms for all type of guests will also be constructed. Once the works are completed the roofed tribunes will have the capacity of 52 thousand 719 spectators.

As Stolarz pointed out on Wednesday, in September the characteristic control tower was demolished, and one the parking areas near the stadium, opposite the ethnographic museum, is almost ready.

PHOTO: Model of the Silesian Stadium/Śląskie Voivodeship Marshall's Office