The organizers of the 2027 Men's Volleyball World Championship added a second host city to the group stage scheme – Olsztyn. Thus, alongside Gdańsk, where host Poland will play, the renovated "Urania" hall will host 12 matches from the first stage of the championship.
This was announced by volleyball blogger Jakub Balcerzak, who claims that the renovated arena in Olsztyn will be one of the venues for the group stage of the World Cup. The news is seen as a strong sign of decentralization of the tournament and a chance for more regions of the country to experience the atmosphere of the World Championship.
Gdańsk – the home of the "white-red" beginning
It is no surprise that Gdańsk has been chosen as the main host for the Polish team. ERGO Arena, with a capacity of up to 11,409 seats, will host the home team's matches, as well as elimination phase matches – round of sixteen and quarterfinals.
This is one of the most modern sports arenas in the country, home to the Trefl Gdańsk volleyball club, where PlusLiga matches and international tournaments are regularly played. This year, Bulgaria played the third Nations League tournament in this hall and defeated Poland 3:2.
Olsztyn – the new host with "Urania" Hall
| Indicator | Detail |
|---|---|
| City | Olsztyn |
| Hall | "Urania" Hall |
| Capacity | around 4,000 seats |
| Host club | Indykpol AZS Olsztyn |
| Status | Fully renovated, opened at the end of 2023 |
| Planned matches | 12 group stage matches |
The "Urania" hall in Olsztyn has undergone a complete modernization and reopened its doors at the end of 2023. With a capacity of around 4000 seats, it offers modern conditions, new stands, and an improved lighting and audio system. This makes it suitable for hosting a major forum like the World Championship, albeit in a more intimate atmosphere.
According to Balcerzak, 12 group stage matches will be held here, but not the matches of the host Poles. They will be concentrated in Gdańsk, while Olsztyn will host another group.
Bulgarian interest in Olsztyn
From an organizational point of view, the decision is good news for Bulgaria too. If the "Lions" do not fall into a group with the hosts, there is a real chance their matches will be precisely in Olsztyn – a city with a rich volleyball history, but also with a compact hall that guarantees a great atmosphere.
The club Indykpol AZS Olsztyn, which plays its home games in "Urania", is among the emblems of Polish volleyball and one of the oldest academic clubs in the country.
After a long break, Olsztyn once again takes its place on the map of major volleyball events.
This year, a friendly match between Poland and Iran was held here – the national team's first appearance in the new facility.
This match had symbolic significance – the return of volleyball to the city where, decades ago, the prestigious Hubert Wagner Memorial was born. The first six editions of the tournament were played in Olsztyn, before the competition found a permanent home in Krakow.
"We are very happy that volleyball is returning to Olsztyn after so many years. We will be guests in a completely new, beautiful, and renovated facility – in a city with rich traditions. Almost all matches of the local team are played in front of full stands, so Olsztyn deserves both a national team match and an opportunity for fans to see the Olympic silver medalists from Paris live. This is an important event for us and another step towards popularizing volleyball in new regions," said Sebastian Świderski, president of the Polish Federation, at the time.
The distribution between Gdańsk and Olsztyn is strategic – the former will be the center of attention with Poland's matches, while the latter will add color and atmosphere to the northeastern part of the country. For fans, this means two different but complementary experiences – a grand stage in the coastal city and a modern, cozy volleyball hall in the interior of Poland. There will probably be at least one more host city for the group stage.
The 2027 World Championship will also have special significance – the top three teams in the final standings will qualify directly for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, which will turn every match into a fierce battle.
