Stadium Industry Update – 4 February 2025

Wrexham AFC unveils updated plans for New Kop Stand at Racecourse Ground

Wrexham AFC has revealed updated plans for a new Kop stand at their historic Stok Racecourse stadium. The revised designs for the 5,500-capacity stand, designed by architecture firm Populous, have been submitted to Wrexham County Borough Council for approval.

The updated design includes provisions for future expansion, allowing the club to increase capacity at a later stage, pending a separate planning application. The stand will feature player and officials’ facilities, including a new player tunnel. It will also include safe standing areas, hospitality suites and accessible seating. A key element of the design is an external brick façade inspired by Wrexham’s ‘Terracottapolis’ heritage, using textures and colours reminiscent of the region’s historic Ruabon red brick. Overlooking a new public plaza, the stand aims to enhance the stadium’s surroundings while maintaining a strong connection to the area’s architectural history.

Wrexham’s chief executive, Michael Williamson, described the unveiling of the new plans as a special moment in the club’s history. The redevelopment is a crucial step in ensuring the ground meets UEFA Category 4 stadium standards, making Wrexham eligible to host international events, including the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals in 2026.

Originally, construction on the stand was scheduled to begin in 2023 but was delayed due to unforeseen complications. The previous Kop terrace, abandoned in 2007, remained unused until its demolition in January 2023. Last season, club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney approved the installation of a temporary stand, which will stay in place until construction on the new stand begins.

CF Intercity moves forward with plans for new stadium and entertainment complex

Spanish football club CF Intercity has secured an irrevocable purchase option for a 100,000-square-meter plot of land in Alicante, marking a major step toward its ambitious plans for a sports and entertainment complex. The site, which previously housed a ceramics factory, is set to feature a 20,000-seat stadium and become a key economic hub for Alicante and the Valencian Community.

The purchase option, agreed through the club’s subsidiary Intercity Park, gives Intercity a 12-month window to complete the transaction. Club president Salvador Martí highlighted the strategic location of the land, which is well connected to major motorways and just five minutes from Alicante’s city centre and ten minutes from the airport. However, the project is still subject to obtaining the necessary administrative and technical approvals. The land is currently classified as rural, meaning construction cannot begin without proper authorization. Despite this, Intercity remains optimistic, with global sports and entertainment company Legends actively working on the development of the business plan for the complex.

More details on the project’s location and commercial strategy are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. For now, Intercity continues to play its home matches at the 2,000-capacity Estadio Antonio Solana.

Bill Foley provides update on Bournemouth’s Stadium expansion plans

AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has shared an update on the club’s stadium plans as the Cherries prepare to move into their new training ground at Canford Magna. The first team is expected to transition to the new facility soon, marking a key step toward the club’s vision for an expanded stadium.

While there are no finalized plans yet, Foley indicated that the most likely approach is to redevelop the existing Vitality Stadium rather than build a new one. One alternative previously suggested by the club involved constructing a stadium on the King’s Park athletics site and relocating that facility. However, Foley now believes the best option is to “dig down” within the current stadium footprint to create additional seating. The proposed redevelopment would increase the stadium’s capacity to between 19,000 and 23,000 seats. The temporary south stand would be replaced with a two-tier structure, while the main stand would undergo internal renovations to enhance hospitality options. Although expansion upwards isn’t feasible, Foley explained that digging down could allow for around 7,000 additional seats. The east stand would also see an increase in hospitality areas, while the north stand would receive a new roof but remain largely unchanged.

Despite the stadium’s current capacity of 11,500, Foley highlighted the high demand for tickets, noting that there is a waiting list of 15,000 to 16,000 fans eager to secure a seat. With these expansion plans, Bournemouth aims to provide a more modern and spacious home for supporters while meeting the growing demand for matchday experiences.

UD Almería unveils plans for new Sports City Complex

Spanish Segunda División club UD Almería has revealed ambitious plans for a new sports city complex, featuring a 3,555-capacity stadium. The project, set to be built in the El Toyo area of the city, will cover 132,000 square meters and require an investment of €13m. The club presented the plans during an event in the Stadium VIP box, where Academy facilities were showcased. General Director Mohamed El Assy described the complex as “top-class in Europe,” while Mayoress María del Mar Vázquez emphasized the club’s strong commitment to the city. The development will include eight football pitches, a gym, offices and two buildings designed to accommodate both Almería’s first team and youth squad. The complex will also feature green spaces and a focus on sustainability.

The plans will be presented later this month at the City Council’s plenary session as a ‘project of action.’

Construction begins on KRC Genk’s new State-of-the-Art Training Centre

Belgian Pro League Club, KRC Genk has officially begun work on its new H.Essers Training Center, a cutting-edge facility set to become the most advanced in Belgium. The club unveiled a 3D animation of the complex, which will feature an indoor hall (1,400 m²), a swimming pool with an adjustable floor, a 150 m² dressing room, and a 100 m² auditorium.

The training centre will span 6,006 m², with an additional 810 m² basement and a 7,217 m² outdoor area. It will include three hybrid football pitches, two of which will be heated, alongside modern offices, meeting rooms and a spacious dining area. The project is part of a broader master plan, which also includes future renovations of their home stadium, the Cegeka Arena, and the development of match facilities for Jong Genk and KRC Genk Ladies at the H.Essers Talent Park. Club chairman Peter Croonen emphasized the uniqueness of the project, aiming to unite all football activities on one site near the historic Waterschei mine.

Head of Football Dimitri de Condé stressed the importance of modern infrastructure to keep Genk competitive on both the national and international stage, stating that the new training complex will provide players with the best conditions to succeed.

Construction is set to be completed within 18 months. If everything stays on track, Genk’s first team will move into the new facilities during the 2026-2027 season.

CAF Confirms Nine Stadiums for Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the nine stadiums that will host matches for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The tournament is set to take place from 21 December to 18 January.

The largest venue will be the Grand Stade de Tangier, which can hold 75,600 spectators. Rabat will have four venues: Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah (69,500 capacity), Stade Al Barid (18,000), Stade Olympique Annexe Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah (21,000) and Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan (22,000). Other stadiums include Casablanca’s Complexe Sportif Mohammed V (45,000), Grand Stade de Marrakech (41,245), Grand Stade d’Agadir (41,144) and Complexe Sportif de Fès (35,468).

Morocco is also set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. In preparation for both tournaments, work on upgrading stadiums in Rabat and Tangier will take place in the coming months, while improvements to venues in Marrakech, Fez and Agadir will follow after the Africa Cup of Nations.

West Ham wins court case over €4.3m Payment dispute with LLDC

West Ham United has won a legal battle against the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which owns London Stadium, securing a €4.3m repayment from the organization. The dispute stemmed from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s purchase of a 27% stake in the club in 2021, a deal valued between €215m and €240m. Under West Ham’s lease agreement with E20 Stadium LLP, a subsidiary of the LLDC that operates the venue, the club’s owners were required to share any profits from the sale of shares for a 10-year period. That clause expired in 2023, but disagreement arose over whether E20 was still entitled to a payment from Kretinsky’s investment.

E20 initially sought more than €7m, while West Ham had only agreed to pay €3m. The club ultimately paid an additional €4.3m to E20 but later challenged the payment in London’s commercial courts. The High Court ruled that the expert determination used to justify the payment contained two “manifest errors,” leading to a decision that E20 must return the €4.3m to West Ham.