In Częstochowa, the need to build a modern football stadium has existed for many years. Raków fans constantly demand that the city government take serious action to create facilities where the current Polish champion can play its matches in the European cup. Currently, Dawid Szwarga’s players represent our country in the Europa League abroad – in Sosnowiec.

In turn, second league team Skra Częstochowa waited a long time for their long-awaited return to their city, and when they returned, they played home games without fans. The reason is, the modernized stadium does not have stands…

In the case of volleyball, there is no such problem. There has been a modern sports hall near Jasna Góra for more than a decade, built specifically for the AZS volleyball team. The latter had won the European Challenge Cup trophy moments earlier and few would have expected the end for the six-time national champions.

In the so-called Meanwhile, several international events were held in the hall. There was a women’s handball match between Poland and Montenegro. The World Club Volleyball Championship, Polish Volleyball Cup, World League and national futsal team matches were also held. But for some time, it has been difficult to find sports offers that appeal to residents of the “Holy City”. The facility is occupied by Exact Systems volleyball player Hermapol Norwida Częstochowa, who was promoted to the PlusLiga this year.

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According to Ryszard Bosek, who lives in Częstochowa and has been closely connected with the local AZS for many years, this is still not enough.

– Let’s start with the fact that someone in Częstochowa had the idea to build a large and modern hall, but it was empty. There was a project to organize a World League, but the city government, whose vice president at the time was Andrzej Szewiński, did not want it. Despite her background in volleyball, I have to admit that she hasn’t done much for the sport. This is a fantastic volleyball hall at the highest international level. Many people from outside wonder why nothing is happening in Częstochowa? I admit I don’t know how it works, because someone has to operate the hall. Halls in Poland compete for competitions or interesting events, while in Poland there are exhibitions of wedding dresses or religious communities. “This is really strange,” said Bosek in an interview for Onet.

What does this city say? We reached out to a city spokesperson, who responded to Bosek’s criticism.

– Currently, the Częstochowa Sports Hall is used mainly for sports purposes – related to training or sports events. About 10 sports clubs use it regularly (training and classes in various disciplines). In addition, Exact Systems Hermapol Norwid Częstochowa played its matches there – a newcomer to the PlusLiga volleyball team, thanks to which volleyball at the highest national level returned to Częstochowa and Zawodzie hall after 7 years – said Włodzimierz Tu from the Municipal Office.

But what about international events? As it turns out, there are some problems – more or less boring.

– Unfortunately, in recent years, high-budget sporting events, the organizers of which require the host cities to spend large sums of money from their budgets, have been beyond the reach of local governments, which – due to decisions made centrally – have higher expenditures with lower own income and major problems in securing funds for mandatory expenses or own contributions to investment projects. If the national policy towards local governments, including Częstochowa, changes and the budget is balanced, it will be more possible to make plans to host major sporting events at the HSC. It should be added that – apart from financial constraints – a particular obstacle is the lack of hotels of a minimum four-star standard in the city and the fact that Częstochowa is only a district city, and not the country’s capital. this region, which is a more desirable place when it comes to organizing European or global events. – points Here.

A city government spokesman acknowledged that renting halls to host events such as wedding dress exhibitions or religious communities that Bosek mentioned is common practice in many Polish cities that have large halls.

– In addition to sports, the hall is also used to host concerts, fairs, exchanges, cabaret evenings, festivals, conferences and recreational and integration events organized by the city or non-governmental organizations. In November, for example, the two-day Senioralia and Cabaret Night will be held here. It is difficult to raise objections, because all sports and entertainment facilities are also used in such a way as to provide additional non-sports offers for residents – he said.

In the end, Tu “bounced the ball” towards Bosek, indicating that AZS Częstochowa’s poor management meant that the arena could not wait for a top-level sporting event for several years. It was Bosek who was working at the club when it was relegated from the PlusLiga after 30 years.

– I would also like to remind you that the main reason for the implementation and finalization of the hall construction plan for 10 years is the national and international success of the AZS Częstochowa volleyball players, for which the city wants – with the help of EU and state funds – to provide an arena and training facilities modern in line with the club’s aspirations at that time. This is also in line with the demands of the entire Częstochowa volleyball community which were formulated several years ago. Unfortunately, the wrong management of professional clubs led to a significant decline in volleyball games in the city for a long time – said Tu.

The Sports Hall in Częstochowa has more than 5,800 permanent seats. It was put into operation in 2012.