Urban movements don't want an arena at Skra. Expert: It's a well-connected location

The councilor points out the negative impact the arena could have on the recreational character of the nearby Pole Mokotowskie – a favorite place for residents to walk and relax, recently renovated. "Matches and events will destroy the field beloved by Warsaw residents," she warns.

Justyna Glusman, deputy mayor of Ochota, also from the urban movement, claims that the lack of appropriate transport connections, especially rail or the planned metro, may lead to traffic jams and noise, which will affect the quality of life of residents.

"Anyone wanting to drive to the match will have to park in the small surrounding streets," the deputy mayor explains. The result? A traffic jam similar to that on Łazienkowska Street during the Torwar events, only crammed into the dense residential development of Ochota. "Increased traffic and noise will make everyday life more difficult for residents," he added in an interview with Raport Warszawski.

The area around Skra is very well connected

Experts disagree with the councilor and deputy mayor's predictions. "Research shows that 50 percent of people using public transportation in Warsaw use buses," explains Jan Jakiel, president of JKO Consulting and founder of the SISKOM association. "The Skra area is served north-south by buses traveling along Żwirki i Wigury Street, which go to the airport. Meanwhile, a strong east-west bus network operates along Kopińska and Wawelska Streets, using the Łazienkowska Route."

He explains that Skra Stadium is well-served by public transport. "If there are any gaps or problems, the city will certainly be able to decide to increase the frequency of buses in the area," he explains.

He adds that the Warszawa Ochota train station is about a kilometer from Skra, and the Rondo Daszyńskiego metro station is a little further away. "These distances are so short that you can walk them," says Jan Jakiel. "Similar solutions exist in Germany, for example, and they work."

The expert also points out that a tram route to the Western Railway Station is being built, which will run along the edge of Pole Mokotowskie. "All analyses showed very heavy traffic on this route," explains Jan Jakiel. "So we should give Skra a chance. Western experience suggests that you need to wait two full seasons to see how the commute works and then make any major decisions."

He also recalls that a similar problem initially arose in Saska Kępa, next to the National Stadium. "The city quickly resolved it by implementing appropriate traffic management," he explains. "It shouldn't be such a big problem here, because the arena seats fewer people than the stadium, and the neighborhoods are also laid out differently," he explains.