The long-awaited Complex Sportiv Oradea project has finally cleared the hurdle of the tender process, after a year of disputes and controversies. The Bucharest Court of Appeal has upheld the results of the procedure organized by the National Investment Company (CNI) and definitively confirmed that the winning bidder, the association formed by Con-A Operations and Prodesign Engineering & Construction, will design and build the new stadium in Bihor.
Oradea is set to get a new stadium, but the project’s launch has been stuck in limbo since last autumn. The signing of the contract with the winning bidder was delayed after the procedure was challenged. Eleven months later, the situation has been finally resolved, and in the future, the city will have a new stadium. However, there are still some details to be worked out regarding the financing, which has put the start of the works on hold.
The contract has an estimated value of over 327 million lei without VAT, and the attribution of the contract was one of the most disputed procedures in the public construction sector in the past year. The reason for the dispute? Contestants appealed to the available legal mechanisms, but all subsequent attempts were rejected by the court. Thus, the initial decision made by CNI remains valid, and the offers submitted will no longer be subject to a re-evaluation process, according to agendaconstructiilor.ro.
Key Players in the Project
The winning association will collaborate with several specialized subcontractors, including Con-A MEP, Flexik Automation, Helinick, Sports Fields, TK Elevator Eastern Europe GmbH Vienna – Branch in Bucharest, and KONE Ascensorul. These companies will play a crucial role in bringing the project to life.
The future sports complex will be designed on a surface of over 53,000 square meters and will include a new stadium without an athletics track, with a capacity of approximately 17,000 spectators. In addition to the sports arena, the project provides spaces for conferences, accommodation areas, and facilities dedicated to recovery. The external arrangements will complete the investment by adding new access routes, pedestrian trails, and infrastructure necessary for the development of sports activities.
Design and Architecture
The technical documentation of the project is based on the feasibility study carried out by the Cluj-Napoca-based architecture firm Dico and Țigănaș, who were also responsible for the Cluj Arena, the “Ion Oblemenco” stadium in Craiova, and the “Arcul de Triumf” stadium.
Financing Issues Delay Project Launch
Although the legal aspect of the project has been closed, the actual execution cannot start immediately. Currently, the investment does not have a signed execution contract, nor have the works begun. According to current legislation, the financing from the state budget for projects in this situation is delayed until after January 1, 2027, and beneficiaries must contribute 25% of the necessary value. Additionally, the reduction of the budget of the Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration by 400 million lei through the state budget for 2026 has affected the allocations destined for the project. If funds are available after 2027, the new arena could be completed as early as 2029.
The future of the Complex Sportiv Oradea project remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the long-awaited new stadium is on its way, and the city of Oradea will soon have a state-of-the-art sports facility to call its own.