Polish Ekstraklasa
Polish Army Stadium
February 22, 2020
So 2020… After two false starts to my groundhopping season, I finally embarked to Warsaw to see Legia play at home. I decided to try and complete Polish ekstraklasa or come as much close as possible, as Poland is big and it’s a challenge to go to Bialystok or Szchecin from Krakow. I also decided to try and get those small metal pins from every game that I visit. Before I would try to get pennants and I still love them but pins are obviously much smaller and portable.
I really like Warsaw. It is rather infamous among some people in Poland, especially for those from
Krakow. I’ve heard they refer to Warsaw as big, grey and soulless. Frankly, I find it nothing like this. And I am an expert in big, grey and soulless cities as I lived 8 years in Toronto. Warsaw definitely has its own vibe, its history and beauty albeit carefully reconstructed. I always enjoy coming here.
My first time in Warsaw was in 2006 when me and my friends went to see Depeche Mode playing at the same venue where I was heading this time – Legia Stadium, also known as Polish Army Stadium, also known as Marshal Pilsudsky Municipal Stadium (formerly known as Pepsi Arena). Back then it was a common concrete bowl with a running track, which got completely rebuilt around in 2008-2011.
The arena is not far from the center of the city and it took me about half an hour on foot to reach it. It is basically located on the doorstep of the famous Lazienky park. On one side, it faces a narrow canal and it must be really nice here in the summer. It also has a bridge nearby and all the bridge support pillars are covered in impressive Legia graffiti.
I bought the ticket at the stadium. It was 50 zloty for the stand opposite the famous Zyleta. I am not sure if it was a family section or just next to it. The official Legia fanshop really stands out from all the other similar Polsh shops that I’ve been to yet. You can feel Legia has money and is on a different level from other teams. Lots of cool stuff here but strangely enough there were no pins. I did not find them in the fan-owned shops or stalls either. I should have gotten a magnet instead but did not want to go back.
The game was to start at 5-30. I checked in to my hotel and by now was pressed with time, so decided to take a bus from me right to the stadium. The bus stop was full with fans in Legia colours so I did not have to worry about getting the right bus. The bus definitely took more fans than it is capable of and I’m sure nobody paid for the trip. It was simply impossible for me to validate my ticket as much it was to check and fine those without valid tickets. So it was a good half-hour journey inside a crammed bus with famous Legia fans singing fans about their glory and how everyone in Europe is fearful of them. The ride took longer than expected. Crowds of fans surrounded the stadium and with the game about to start, I was sure to be late, especially when I had to take a detour as my entrance gate was on the other side of the bus stop. Thankfully the family section gate was almost empty and I was instantly in.
The stadium was not full, but quite close it. Legia is perhaps the best supported team in Poland and I had a proof in front of my eyes in a form of Zyleta stand. Draped in various banners and full with fans in white, it was super loud and the fans sure made themselves heard. Unfortunately I could not see Jagellonia section properly. I’ve heard them a couple of times and apparently they had spartak moscow banner among them, so I’m glad they had a miserable time at the game.
Though the winter is unusually warm, it was still chilly and my new Pringle scarf was a fitting addition. I also tried a winter tea from the food stalls – a brewed black tea with cinnamon and oranges. The rest of the offerings were quite standard.
I’m struggling to remember a team so inept at football as Jagellonia. They had no idea what to do with the ball in those rare moments when they actually had it. The outcome of the game was evident right after Legia scored a quick first half goal. From then on, there was just one team on the pitch. An
embarrassing effort from Jagellonia had a negative impact on my enjoyment of the game and I could not wait for the match to be over. Predictably it ended 4-0 to the home team.
Instead of waiting for another packed bus, I went to the city centre on foot where I took a subway to my hotel. Glad to cross Legia off my list.
Polish Army Stadium
February 22, 2020
So 2020… After two false starts to my groundhopping season, I finally embarked to Warsaw to see Legia play at home. I decided to try and complete Polish ekstraklasa or come as much close as possible, as Poland is big and it’s a challenge to go to Bialystok or Szchecin from Krakow. I also decided to try and get those small metal pins from every game that I visit. Before I would try to get pennants and I still love them but pins are obviously much smaller and portable.
I really like Warsaw. It is rather infamous among some people in Poland, especially for those from
Krakow. I’ve heard they refer to Warsaw as big, grey and soulless. Frankly, I find it nothing like this. And I am an expert in big, grey and soulless cities as I lived 8 years in Toronto. Warsaw definitely has its own vibe, its history and beauty albeit carefully reconstructed. I always enjoy coming here.
My first time in Warsaw was in 2006 when me and my friends went to see Depeche Mode playing at the same venue where I was heading this time – Legia Stadium, also known as Polish Army Stadium, also known as Marshal Pilsudsky Municipal Stadium (formerly known as Pepsi Arena). Back then it was a common concrete bowl with a running track, which got completely rebuilt around in 2008-2011.
The arena is not far from the center of the city and it took me about half an hour on foot to reach it. It is basically located on the doorstep of the famous Lazienky park. On one side, it faces a narrow canal and it must be really nice here in the summer. It also has a bridge nearby and all the bridge support pillars are covered in impressive Legia graffiti.
I bought the ticket at the stadium. It was 50 zloty for the stand opposite the famous Zyleta. I am not sure if it was a family section or just next to it. The official Legia fanshop really stands out from all the other similar Polsh shops that I’ve been to yet. You can feel Legia has money and is on a different level from other teams. Lots of cool stuff here but strangely enough there were no pins. I did not find them in the fan-owned shops or stalls either. I should have gotten a magnet instead but did not want to go back.
The game was to start at 5-30. I checked in to my hotel and by now was pressed with time, so decided to take a bus from me right to the stadium. The bus stop was full with fans in Legia colours so I did not have to worry about getting the right bus. The bus definitely took more fans than it is capable of and I’m sure nobody paid for the trip. It was simply impossible for me to validate my ticket as much it was to check and fine those without valid tickets. So it was a good half-hour journey inside a crammed bus with famous Legia fans singing fans about their glory and how everyone in Europe is fearful of them. The ride took longer than expected. Crowds of fans surrounded the stadium and with the game about to start, I was sure to be late, especially when I had to take a detour as my entrance gate was on the other side of the bus stop. Thankfully the family section gate was almost empty and I was instantly in.
The stadium was not full, but quite close it. Legia is perhaps the best supported team in Poland and I had a proof in front of my eyes in a form of Zyleta stand. Draped in various banners and full with fans in white, it was super loud and the fans sure made themselves heard. Unfortunately I could not see Jagellonia section properly. I’ve heard them a couple of times and apparently they had spartak moscow banner among them, so I’m glad they had a miserable time at the game.
Though the winter is unusually warm, it was still chilly and my new Pringle scarf was a fitting addition. I also tried a winter tea from the food stalls – a brewed black tea with cinnamon and oranges. The rest of the offerings were quite standard.
I’m struggling to remember a team so inept at football as Jagellonia. They had no idea what to do with the ball in those rare moments when they actually had it. The outcome of the game was evident right after Legia scored a quick first half goal. From then on, there was just one team on the pitch. An
embarrassing effort from Jagellonia had a negative impact on my enjoyment of the game and I could not wait for the match to be over. Predictably it ended 4-0 to the home team.
Instead of waiting for another packed bus, I went to the city centre on foot where I took a subway to my hotel. Glad to cross Legia off my list.
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