La Cartuja to become Spain’s third-largest stadium by 2025
Seville’s renowned La Cartuja Stadium is undergoing a €14.2 million redevelopment, increasing its capacity from 57,000 to over 70,000, with the ability to accommodate up to 75,000 for concerts. The transformation will see the removal of the athletics track, lowering the pitch level and bringing the stands closer to the field to enhance the spectator experience. Upon completion in March 2025, La Cartuja will become Spain’s third-largest stadium, following Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou and Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The revamped venue is a strong candidate to host matches during the 2030 FIFA World Cup and is slated to become Spain’s national stadium. Additionally, it will temporarily host Real Betis Balompié and Sevilla FC while their stadiums undergo their own redevelopment projects.
Manchester United fans prefer New Old Trafford Stadium
Manchester United has revealed insights from the first phase of fan consultations on the future of Old Trafford, gathering input from over 50,000 supporters, including season ticket holders, members, and executive club members. This engagement marked the club’s highest-ever participation rate in fan research. The findings showed overwhelming positivity, with over 90% of respondents supporting the ambition to create “a world-class stadium at the heart of a regenerated stadium district.” When it comes to the future of Old Trafford, 52% of fans expressed support for building a new stadium, while 31% favoured redevelopment, and 17% remained unsure. Current season ticket holders, especially older fans, showed the strongest backing for a new-build option, while younger fans leaned more toward redevelopment. Across all groups, priorities included preserving the club’s history and heritage, increasing ticket availability, and improving the stadium atmosphere.
Rick McGagh, Director of Fan Engagement at Manchester United: “We know how important our home is to fans and we need to listen to them and gain all their views and insights in order to develop the world-class stadium the deserve. We are delights that this survey received the most responses in the club’s history. It shows how important this work is, and to have this level of engagement at this stage is a really positive place to start.“ The insights from this initial round of fan consultation work will feed into the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force options report that will be delivered to the club at the end of the year. Previous reports have suggested that the new stadium will have a capacity of 100,000.
Go Ahead Eagles receive green light for De Adelaarshorst renovation
Dutch football club Go Ahead Eagles has secured approval to renovate its iconic stadium, De Adelaarshorst, increasing its capacity from 10,400 to 12,500. The stadium last underwent significant upgrades in 2015, when expansions to the Leo Halle Stand and the main stand boosted its capacity to its current level. The new redevelopment plans aim to further modernize the venue while preserving its unique charm. The IJssel Stand will be raised to a height of 15 meters, aligning it with the Leo Halle Stand, creating a more cohesive and imposing look. Meanwhile, the B-Side will increase to a height of nine meters, enhancing the overall symmetry and atmosphere of the stadium
Malmö Stadion site to be redeveloped into modern Athletics and Football hub
The City of Malmö has partnered with Swedish construction firm Skanska to redevelop the Malmö Stadion site into a state-of-the-art venue for athletics and football. The historic stadium, originally built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, will be demolished to make way for the new facility. Located adjacent to Eleda Stadion, the home of Malmö FF since 2009, the new stadium will feature a capacity of up to 8,000 spectators and meet international standards for both football and athletics. The project is part of a broader initiative to enhance Malmö’s sports infrastructure, which includes a new multi-sport building also being developed by Skanska.
Skanska’s role includes overseeing the demolition of Malmö Stadion, conducting an architectural competition to design the new venue, and managing the initial planning and calculations for construction. The architectural competition is scheduled for early 2025, followed by a design phase. Demolition of Malmö Stadion will begin later that year, with construction of the new facility slated to commence in 2026. The new stadium will retain the same orientation as Eleda Stadion, integrating seamlessly into the area’s sports district.
Ipswich town hinted to redevelop Portman Road
Ipswich Town chairman and CEO Mark Ashton has outlined plans to increase the club’s stadium capacity to 40,000 up from 30,014 as part of a long-term vision for the future. One of the key proposals includes extending the West Stand at Portman Road. Although the Cobbold Stand, dating back to 1971, is the oldest section of the stadium, Ashton emphasized that redeveloping this stand is not the club’s immediate priority. Should the Cobbold Stand be demolished in the future, it would temporarily displace around 750 season ticket holders and 3,000 away fans. In the meantime, recent improvements to the West Stand include expanded executive lounges, increased away fan seating and enhanced media facilities.
STVV Launches game corner to bridge real and digital football worlds
Belgian football club STVV has launched an innovative concept, the Game Corner, offering fans and visitors a seamless blend of live football action and digital gaming excitement. Located at Stayen stadium, the Game Corner is equipped with cutting-edge gaming PCs, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5 consoles, allowing users to play fan-favourite games like EAFC (formerly FIFA), Rocket League, Mario Strikers and Fortnite. For motorsport enthusiasts, a high-tech racing simulator provides an adrenaline-pumping virtual driving experience.
Designed as a versatile space, the Game Corner will be available for hire by businesses and groups, with STVV supporters also able to access the facility on specific occasions. On matchdays, guests can pair their gaming sessions with the thrill of watching a live game at the stadium. Outside of matchdays, STVV plans to expand the experience with stadium tours that include gaming opportunities, creating a dynamic football-themed day out. Visitors can also enjoy meals together in the Game Corner, adding a social dimension to the experience. Looking to the future, the club aims to organize children’s camps, blending gaming sessions with football training on Stayen’s iconic pitch, further solidifying their commitment to fostering both digital and physical activity among young fans.
While the primary goal is to rent the space to companies and groups, STVV is committed to ensuring that season ticket holders also have chances to enjoy this unique offering.
City Council Approves Sale of San Siro Stadium
The City Council of Milan has approved the sale of the iconic San Siro stadium and its surrounding land, with an agreement expected by July. The motion passed with 24 votes in favour, 16 against and two abstentions. The stadium and its plot have been valued at €197m, with €124m attributed to the land and €73m to the structure itself. Both AC Milan and Inter Milan, the stadium’s long-term tenants, have expressed interest in purchasing the property as part of their plans to construct a new state-of-the-art venue. In September, the two clubs rejected a proposal backed by the Municipality to redevelop the existing San Siro, opting instead for a new stadium to be built nearby. This decision highlights their commitment to modernizing facilities and enhancing the matchday experience for fans.
Helmond Sport delays debut at revamped De Braak Stadium
Helmond Sport, currently leading the Dutch Eerste Divisie and vying for promotion to the Eredivisie, has announced a delay in its planned debut at the newly redeveloped De Braak stadium. The team was initially set to play its first match at the 3,500-seat venue on 11 January, but a revised date has yet to be confirmed. The delay stems from disagreements over the type of playing surface to be installed. Promotion to the Eredivisie would necessitate replacing the club’s current artificial turf with a grass or hybrid pitch to meet top-flight standards. Additionally, finalizing the stadium’s lease agreement has contributed to the postponement. The new De Braak stadium is part of a broader sports campus project, which includes a multipurpose complex designed to serve the local community. Helmond Sport fans have been invited to an informational evening on 13 November to discuss the stadium’s progress and future developments. Despite the delay, city alderman Harrie van Dijk has emphasized that there is no conflict between the municipality and the club.
Berlin’s Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark renovation halted over environmental concerns
The major renovation of Berlin’s Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark has been put on hold following a court ruling concerning environmental concerns, specifically the impact on local wildlife, including nesting sparrows. Demolition work at the site, which began earlier, has now been suspended after the Berlin Administrative Court granted an urgent request from a conservation organization. The court ruled to temporarily halt demolition on certain buildings at the stadium, which are home to breeding grounds for house sparrows.
While the Berlin Senate is addressing the issue, demolition activities will remain suspended until at least 28 February. A report commissioned by the Senate highlighted that the renovation project would destroy the breeding sites of various protected species, including birds and bats. In response, the Senate has pledged to implement compensatory measures, such as the installation of birdhouses for the sparrows. However, the court expressed doubts over whether this would adequately replace the 94 breeding sites in question, raising concerns about whether the new homes would be ready in time and if the birds would use them.
The renovation plans include transforming the stadium into a 20,000-capacity venue primarily for athletics events. It was reported that the total cost of the project has risen to more than €300m.
TheFA is looking for a Ticketing Operations Manager
Wembley Ticketing Operations provides tailored services for many Event Owners. The post-holder will deliver Ticketing Operations with a focus on live music events, ensuring all delivery requirements are met to the highest standards. Candidates have until 26 November 2024 to apply for the vacancy. Find further information here.
Dorlet Webinar on security solutions for sports complexes
On Wednesday, 27 November, at 10:00 AM (Spanish time), Dorlet will host a webinar focused on security within sports complexes. The event will feature ESSMA Corporate partners to share insights on security in sport complexes.
