SIS Pitches Returf at Wroclaw’s Tarczynski Arena

Tarczyński Arena Wrocław is one of Poland’s most iconic stadiums. Opened in 2011 for UEFA Euro 2012, it has a capacity of 42,000+ seats, an eye-catching exterior, and hosts everything from top-flight football to international concerts and events. It is home to Śląsk Wrocław and carries the name of its sponsor, Tarczyński S.A., a family-owned leader in premium food products.

The stadium’s multi-purpose nature poses a significant challenge for the pitch, particularly at the end of the season. Heavy machinery used for concert stages and sound systems, combined with covering the turf for events, causes severe compaction. As a result, the natural grass pitch requires resurfacing.

End of season re-turf after a summer of concerts

Following two Ed Sheeran concerts at the end of the season, the arena decided to carry out a full re-turf of the pitch. The main goal was to restore the playing surface, relieve compaction, improve drainage, and ensure the grass could withstand the high-intensity demands of the upcoming football season.

Our team arrived on site to the old natural grass surface in-situ, exposed after the concerts, ready to begin the removal of the old turf. Before installing the new grass, the pitch was decompacted and rotivated, then carefully rolled, levelled, and laser-graded. This preparation was crucial for revitalising the subsurface: it improves drainage, increased airflow, and strengthened conditions for healthy, plant growth.

Led by Rafal Abel, the team worked tirelessly from start to finish, often beginning early and continuing late into the night, to deliver a best-in-class pitch for Tarczyński Arena.

Led by Rafal Abel, the team worked tirelessly from start to finish, often beginning early and continuing late into the night, to deliver a best-in-class pitch for Tarczyński Arena.

With the completion of the re-turf, Tarczyński Arena quickly returned to football action. Śląsk Wrocław resumed their domestic league fixtures, allowing the grounds team to monitor the early performance of the new playing surface and assess its recovery under regular use.

The stadium also hosted a high-profile international fixture, the World Cup qualifier between Ukraine and France, resulting in two intense, top-level matches within a single week. The newly installed natural grass pitch performed exceptionally, demonstrating the quality of the installation and preparation works. With the decompaction and surface preparation complete, the pitch is expected to provide a more durable playing surface with improved drainage, even through the demanding winter months.