Earlier this month, the week of the Lech Poznan lock-out, we attended a match played by Poznan’s other team, Warta Poznan.  This second division club has been the talk of the town lately.  They’ve been around since 1912, but haven’t had much success in recent years.  They’ve been plagued by debt, poor facilities, and lack luster attendance.

Last winter, former Playboy model,  Izabela Lukomska-Pyzalska, invested in the club and took over as director.  At 33, Izabela has left her career in adult magazines behind, and now owns a modeling agency and is involved in her husband’s property development business.   It also appears that she knows a great deal about public relations and marketing.

After paying off the team’s debt, Izabela set about making other changes.  Tickets to Warta matches are now free, and can be picked up at various locations about town.  Earlier in the season, they were giving away Warta scarves, (the soccer equivalent of a Terrible Towel).  Models from her agency serve as hostesses at the matches.  Costumed characters from Winnie the Pooh greet the children in the stands with green Warta balloons.

Her image graces billboards for the team.  Attendance has risen from 500 – 1,000 for home matches to 19,000 to 24,000 (50% of the city’s new stadium’s capacity.)

We enjoyed the match we attended, which they won.  We’re hoping that their strong performance on the pitch and their financial position will enable the club to move up next season and join Lech Poznan in the Ekstraklasa, Poland’s top football league.