Wrexham AFC moves forward with ambitious STōK Racecourse development
Wrexham AFC is making significant progress in its plans to redevelop the STōK Racecourse stadium, with the next stage now underway. The club has appointed architects Populous to create a masterplan for the stadium, ensuring it meets future needs and UEFA standards.
In February 2025, Wrexham AFC will submit revised designs for the new 5,500-capacity Kop Stand to Wrexham County Borough Council. The goal is to complete the stand by the summer of 2026, ahead of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, which will be hosted in Wales. The new Kop Stand, part of a broader redevelopment of the stadium, will help the venue achieve UEFA Category 4 status, enabling it to host international events. Populous has spent time engaging with local fans and residents to gather insights into the club’s history and identity. This has influenced the design, with a focus on using locally sourced materials that reflect Wrexham’s heritage. The aim is to create a stadium that feels authentic, modern and rooted in the community.
Wrexham AFC CEO Michael Williamson emphasized the significance of this project: “The new Kop Stand is a major milestone, and we are committed to delivering a stadium that celebrates Wrexham’s rich history and vibrant fanbase.” Declan Sharkey, Global Director at Populous, added: “We aim to design a stand that amplifies the passion of Wrexham’s fans and becomes a lasting monument to the club and the city.”
The new Kop Stand will be the first phase of the wider Wrexham Gateway project, which involves collaboration with local authorities, Wrexham University and other key stakeholders. A temporary 2,289-capacity stand was erected last season after delays pushed back the original timeline for the new stand.
Estádio Nacional in Lisbon set for major redesign
AFL Architects will collaborate with Aires Mateus and Gonçalves Vieira Cruz on the redevelopment of Lisbon’s Estádio Nacional. The stadium will undergo a “sensitive and innovative redesign” to maintain its status as a top venue for football, rugby and athletics. The project will respect the stadium’s heritage, with a focus on its topography, while enhancing its design. New elements will be integrated into the surrounding hillside, and the redesigned roof will be suspended above the slope. The €25 million project will reduce the stadium’s capacity to 36,388 but will include VIP lounges, advanced media facilities, improved accessibility and better sightlines for fans. This redevelopment aims to preserve the essence of the original design while modernising the venue for future events.
Expansion of Marcel Deflandre Stadium of Stade Rochelais takes shape
The plans for the expansion of the Marcel Deflandre Stadium in La Rochelle are moving forward, with a goal to add two new corner sections, increasing the stadium’s capacity by over 1,250 seats. Following a significant renovation project in the summer of 2023, which included a new presidential stand (costing over €14m and adding 700 seats and new boxes), the city and the club are now aiming to further boost capacity. Once complete, the stadium will be able to host nearly 18,000 spectators. Importantly, Stade Rochelais will continue to play in the stadium throughout the construction period.
According to current plans, construction is set to begin at the end of this season, around early June. The expanded capacity will reach17,956 seats, thanks to two new corner sections. One corner will be built between the Jackson stand and the Macif stand in the northwest, accommodating 550 seats and six spaces for fans with reduced mobility. The other corner, located between the Caravelle stand and the Macif stand in the northeast, will feature 690 seats and 12 additional spaces for people with reduced mobility. In addition to the seating expansion, the administration building near the main entrance will be demolished to create a large plaza. Administrative offices will eventually be relocated to a new facility near the Macif Parc, less than two kilometres from the stadium.
Aviron Bayonnais to host annual match in San Sebastián to promote Basque rugby
French Top 14 rugby club Aviron Bayonnais has announced plans to play an annual match at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián as part of a wider effort to promote rugby in the Basque region. The initiative is being carried out in partnership with the Spanish Rugby Federation (RFER) and the Basque Rugby Federation. The Reale Arena, best known as the home of Spanish LaLiga football club Real Sociedad, will serve as the venue for the annual fixture. Located approximately 57 kilometres from Bayonne, where Aviron Bayonnais is based, the stadium offers an opportunity to engage fans and develop rugby across borders.
The first match at Reale Arena will take place on 26 April, with Aviron Bayonnais facing local rival Section Paloise.
Lugano changes course to save €38m on new stadium project
The Municipality of Lugano has announced a significant shift in the financial model for its ambitious sports infrastructure project, which includes a new stadium for FC Lugano and a multi-purpose arena. In an effort to achieve substantial cost savings, the leasing arrangement initially planned will be replaced with a bond loan. The PSE project focuses on the construction of an 8,500-seat stadium for Swiss Super League football club FC Lugano and a 4,000-capacity arena for ice hockey team HC Lugano in the Cornaredo district. Construction began in September 2023 and is progressing on schedule, with the stadium expected to be completed as planned.
As part of the public-private partnership, the Municipality was required to decide on the financing method at least six months before the stadium’s completion. The original plan to lease the facility was reconsidered after financial analyses demonstrated that a bond loan would be significantly more cost-effective. Simulations revealed that leasing would cost €164 million over 27 years, compared to €126 million for a bond loan, resulting in savings of approximately €38 million. The bond loan is also considered less financially risky, making it the preferred option.
Following these findings, the Municipality has requested City Council approval for a bond loan to finance the purchase of the Arena Sportiva and its operations. The Palazzetto dello Sport arena, another component of the project, will be evaluated for potential repurchase in early 2026.
Atlético de Madrid kicks off 2025 with record membership numbers
Spanish LaLiga club Atlético de Madrid has started 2025 on a high note, reaching a record-breaking 145,638 members. This milestone surpasses the previous record of 144,372, with over 1,000 fans joining recently. The club also proudly reports 60,874 season-ticket holders, reflecting the strong support from its fanbase. During the festive period, Atlético opened its membership window to encourage new fans to join and the club anticipates the number of members will continue to grow in the coming weeks. Membership offers numerous benefits, including priority access and discounts on tickets for matches at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. Members can also purchase tickets for away games, enjoy free entry to Atleti B and women’s first-team matches, and receive discounts in official stores, on stadium tours and at the Territorio Atleti museum.
Atlético de Madrid’s recent fan experience initiative, Madrid on Ice, proved to be a massive success, exceeding all expectations. From December 23 to January 5, the club transformed its stadium into a winter wonderland, featuring a giant 4,760m² ice rink circling the pitch—the first event of its kind in a Spanish football stadium. The event attracted over 100,000 visitors, with tickets selling out completely. Skaters were treated to live DJ performances, light shows and ice shows, creating an unforgettable experience for fans and families alike.Following the overwhelming success of this debut, the organisation has announced that Madrid on Ice will return for a second edition in December of this year.
DFL launches Bundesliga campaign on Roblox to engage young fans
On 16 January, the DFL (German Football League) made history as the first European sports league to join Roblox, the global virtual platform popular with young audiences. In collaboration with gaming agency Build a Rocket, the Bundesliga launched an innovative campaign to connect with Generation Z and redefine digital fan engagement. The activation, developed with Roblox studio Karta, offers five exciting experiences, including four challenging obstacle courses (known as “Obbies”) and a free kick simulator. Fans can also visit a virtual Bundesliga clubhouse to collect exclusive items, customize their avatars and explore Bundesliga content. League partners ESPN and Topps are featured in the lobby, providing additional opportunities for brand interaction.
Since its launch, the campaign has been an instant success, with the first experience garnering over 1.3m views in just four days. The initiative aims to ignite passion for football among young audiences and sustain enthusiasm for the Bundesliga. Roblox, with over 380 million monthly users, offers a dynamic environment for the DFL to connect with Generation Z and beyond.
SGL unveils TurfBase for smarter pitch management
SGL has launched TurfBase, a data-driven platform for greenkeepers to optimize pitch maintenance. TurfBase provides real-time insights into field conditions, helping manage microclimates and streamline decisions. Developed with input from top clubs/stadiums like Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona and Allianz Stadium, TurfBase combines data with intuitive tools to enhance efficiency and results. Integrated recommendations for SGL products further optimise pitch care, making it a game-changer for turf management worldwide.
Jim Buttar, Head of Grounds and Technical Operations at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, was part of the test group from the start and contributed to TurfBase’s development. “My favourite feature is the Energy Monitor. It provides detailed insights into how much energy we’re using each month. This makes it easy to share accurate data with stadium facilities and management, showing that we’re doing everything we can to be efficient with our grow lights. It’s highly accurate, which is a big plus!”
Discover the full Press release here.
