CFR Cluj to Remain at Gruia Stadium for 2026-2027 Season
CFR Cluj has confirmed that it will continue to host its home matches at Gruia Stadium for the 2026-2027 season. Earlier this year, Ioan Varga, the club owner, suggested a potential move to Cluj Arena, home of local rivals U Cluj, citing rising maintenance costs of the current venue.
However, Iuliu Mureșan, the club’s director, announced that the initial plan to relocate has been abandoned following fan backlash against the potential move. Many supporters expressed their desire for the team to remain at Gruia, impacting the club’s decision as they prepare for the upcoming season.
CFR Cluj Confirms Stay at Gruia for the Upcoming Season
“We played our Supercup final at Cluj Arena, which was a start for us. Next season, we will be playing at our own stadium. There was some discontent among the fans. Several have reached out to me, expressing that we should not move,” stated Mureșan, as reported by digisport.ro.
The fan sentiment was strong enough that some hesitated to purchase subscriptions, fearing the move to Cluj Arena. “In the end, we will continue playing at our own stadium,” he reassured.
In terms of financial obligations, Varga mentioned that they are paying over €110,000 annually just for the building tax on the stadium, with no financial support from the local council. He voiced frustration over the perceived disparity in support for different clubs in the city.
“Our stadium remains available for training and friendly matches. The maintenance costs are significant for a private club. We are now liable for taxes that were previously waived. Why is CFR treated differently? We pay €115,000 in taxes; that doesn’t seem fair,” Varga remarked in April.
Potential for U Cluj to Use Gruia Stadium
In spring, Varga also indicated a willingness to allow U Cluj to use Gruia Stadium during the period when Cluj Arena will host the Untold festival from August 6 to 9, 2026. This arrangement would allow U Cluj to kick off its home matches for the new European season without conflict.
U Cluj is set to begin its Europa League qualifiers on July 16 against Dynamo Kyiv, in the second leg of their matchup.
