Marian Spychała Speedway Stadium
{{Short description|Stadium in Opole, Poland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| stadium_name = Marian Spychała Speedway Stadium
| image = File:Kolejarz Opole 2010.jpg
| caption = Riders on the Opole track in 2010
| location = Wschodnia 2, 45-233 Opole, Poland
| coordinates = {{coord|50|39|35|N|17|57|36|E|}}
| opened = Pre World War II
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner =
| operator =
| surface =
| tenants = Motorcycle speedway
| capacity = 8,000
| length_km = (321 metres) 0.321
}}
The Marian Spychała Speedway Stadium ({{langx|pl|Stadion im. Mariana Spychały w Opolu}}) formerly the Stadion Kolejarz, is an 8,000-capacity motorcycle speedway stadium in Opole, Poland.{{cite web |url=http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/pol/stadion_zuzlowy_opole |title=Miejski Stadion Żużlowy im. Mariana Spychały |website=StadiumDB |access-date=16 November 2023}}
The venue is used by the speedway team Kolejarz Opole,{{cite web |url=https://www.zuzelend.com/stadion.php?id=31 |title=Stadion żużlowy im.Mariana Spychały Opole |website=Zuzelend |access-date=16 November 2023}} who compete in the Team Speedway Polish Championship.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Speedway from Around the Globe |url=|magazine=Speedway Star |pages=36–37 |location= |publisher= |date=23 July 2022 |access-date=}}
History
The stadium was built before World War II and featured an athletics track. During the war the stadium (which could hold 2,600 spectators of which 600 were seated) was destroyed. The stadium was rebuilt as a speedway stadium in 1957.{{cite web |url=http://www.kolejarzopole.pl/stadion/ |title=Stadion |website=Kolejarz Opole speedway club |access-date=16 November 2023}}
It underwent an expansion in 1960 with 5,000 seats and 3,000 standing areas, before becoming the home of Kolejarz Opole in 1961. Since 1988 the speedway track has measured 321 metres.
On 2 July 2015, the stadium was renamed after a former rider, Marian Spychała, who was a prominent team manager for Kolejarz Opole.
On 18 April 2022, the stadium hosted the Golden Helmet, which was won by the world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik. He broke the track record during the event, recording a time of 59.39 seconds.{{cite web |url=https://www.moviesonline.ca/slag-a-track-record-he-was-set-third-consecutive-golden-helmet-bartosz-swept-smarzlik-in-opole-relacja/ |title=A track record, he was set, third consecutive Golden Helmet. Bartosz swept Smarzlik in Opole |website=Moviesonline |access-date=16 November 2023}} The stadium hosted the Golden Helmet again in 2023 and 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/kubera-completes-historic-treble-with-golden-helmet-win |title=Kubera completes historic treble with Golden Helmet win |website=FIM |access-date=4 April 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Motorcycle speedway tracks}}
Category:Speedway venues in Poland
Category:Buildings and structures in Opole
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{{Poland-sports-venue-stub}}