Stadium Industry Update - 22 October 2024

FC Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou is imminent, Cleveland Browns declare intentions for Brook Park Stadium Vision, Huddersfield Town set to gain majority control of John Smith’s Stadium, Liverpool recycled over one million plastic bottles and much more in our latest stadium industry updates!

FC Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou is imminent 

The redevelopment of Spotify Camp Nou is approaching a pivotal moment, with the stadium set to host matches while construction wraps up. Vice President Elena Fort provided updates on the project, including the parallel development of the Palau Blaugrana and surrounding streets, as well as the upcoming Campus Barça. “We are finalising the basic project for the Palau, which will be presented soon,” she stated. Fort emphasised the club's priority on Spotify Camp Nou, noting that some materials recycled from the Miniestadi are being repurposed for the new stadium. Regarding the timeline, Fort reiterated the club's goal to have the stadium ready for return by the end of 2024. She acknowledged ongoing collaboration with Barcelona City Council to expedite necessary license approvals. Construction progress is increasingly visible, with approximately 800 seats installed daily, creating a distinct blaugrana pattern, alongside significant work on interior spaces and essential infrastructure. 

Construction on Camp Nou commenced in June 2023. 

Cleveland Browns declare intentions for Brook Park Stadium Vision 

The American Rugby team, The Cleveland Browns are moving forward with plans for a new €2.2bn domed stadium in Brook Park, prompting criticism from Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, who described the decision as “driven by a desire to maximise profits rather than positive impact.” In statements released last Thursday, both the Browns and city officials addressed the team's long-term stadium future. Since 2017, the Browns have been considering options for a new venue or renovations to Huntington Bank Field, as their lease at the current stadium expires in 2028. 

In August, the team showcased designs for the proposed Brook Park stadium, located approximately 14.5 km southwest of Downtown Cleveland. This announcement followed Cleveland's proposal of a €425m funding contribution for the redevelopment of Huntington Bank Field. The Browns have called the 67,431-seat stadium home since its opening in 1999. A proposed 30-year lease was on the table, promising a “dramatically transformed facility” for the region at an estimated redevelopment cost of around €900m. However, Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam of Haslam Sports Group (HSG) have indicated a preference for relocating instead. 

Huddersfield Town set to gain majority control of John Smith’s Stadium 

Kirklees Council has announced it has reached an agreement to transfer its stake in John Smith’s Stadium to Huddersfield Town, giving the League One football club an 80% ownership of the company that runs the venue. This move marks the end of a long-standing uncertainty surrounding the stadium's future and the ownership structure of Kirklees Stadium Development Limited (KSDL), which has been jointly owned by the Council (40%), Huddersfield Town (40%) and the Super League's Huddersfield Giants (20%) since the stadium’s opening in 1994. 

In recent years, Kirklees Council had been seeking to exit this arrangement. According to a new Council report cited by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Huddersfield Town will assume the Council’s 40% stake, though the Council will retain the freehold ownership of the stadium site. The transfer will require a debt write-off, as the Council's most recent budget references a potential €4.6m loan to KSDL that may be forgiven to finalise the agreement. Additionally, the Council will take possession of land originally acquired by KSDL for the stalled €120m HDOne development project. This land will now be integrated into the local authority’s regeneration plans for Huddersfield, part of broader efforts to revitalise the West Yorkshire town. 

Liverpool recycled over one million plastic bottles 

As part of its sustainability initiative, The Red Way, Liverpool FC has implemented a comprehensive waste management system, driving fan engagement and fostering positive recycling habits. This strategy has led to significant progress in reducing plastic waste at Anfield. Fan participation in the recycling programme has soared, with 99% of fans now actively involved, an impressive leap from just 25% in the 2021-22 season. Over the past three years, LFC has collected over 1,051,400 plastic bottles through matchday collections and events at the stadium, which are being processed through a third-party circulatory system to ensure they are repurposed rather than ending up in landfill. 

Irish Government seeks more Euro 2028 matches after Belfast Exclusion 

The Irish Government is urging the country to take on additional UEFA Euro 2028 matches after Belfast was removed from the hosting plan. Ireland is currently set to host six matches at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, but the reallocation of Belfast's five matches remains undecided. Northern Ireland's exclusion from the Euro 2028 hosting plan followed the UK government's announcement last month that it would not provide funding for the redevelopment of Belfast’s Casement Park stadium, citing significant cost increases associated with the project. 

It had been anticipated that the five matches originally scheduled for Casement Park would be distributed among Aviva Stadium, London’s Wembley Stadium, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium and Glasgow’s Hampden Park. UEFA has reportedly rejected the proposal for Croke Park to serve as a second host venue in Dublin. Cork’s Páirc uí Chaoimh has also been mentioned as a potential location, with Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, advocating for a “regional” spread of games. However, the stadium's current capacity of 23,000, along with an additional 24,000 standing places, presents challenges for its utilisation, particularly regarding the standing terraces. 

Trials announced in Women’s football to lift alcohol ban in stands 

Nikki Doucet, CEO of Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), announced plans to conduct trials allowing alcohol consumption in the stands at two second-tier Championship clubs. Since 1985, the consumption of alcohol in the stands has been prohibited across the five highest tiers of English men's football, from the Premier League to the National League, as a measure to curb hooliganism. Women’s football has adopted the same regulations for its top two tiers. However, fans are allowed to drink at other sports events, including cricket and rugby. Additionally, divisions below the fifth tier of English men’s football and divisions below the second tier of women’s football do not face similar restrictions, permitting fans to enjoy alcoholic beverages within sight of the pitch. The specific clubs participating in the trial have yet to be announced. 

Lenovo becomes partner of FIFA 

Lenovo has signed a landmark deal to become a top-tier sponsor of FIFA, positioning the Chinese tech giant as the official technology partner for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, as well as the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Announced at Lenovo’s Tech World event in Seattle, the partnership will see Lenovo’s cutting-edge products, services and AI-powered innovations integrated into both tournaments. The technology will enhance fan experiences in stadiums, improve global broadcasts, boost analytics and aim to make data more accessible for football-playing nations worldwide. 

Upgrading Iceland’s football home: Laugardalsvöllur project begins 

Work has begun on transforming Reykjavík's Laugardalsvöllur into a dedicated football venue. Currently home to the Icelandic national team, the renovation will add a new hybrid-grass pitch and an under-pitch heating system for year-round usability. A ceremony to launch the project was attended by Iceland’s Minister of Education and Children’s Affairs, Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Reykjavík Mayor Einar Porsteinsson and Icelandic Football Association KSI Chairman Porvaldur Örlygsson. With an initial investment of €1.7m from both the national government and the city, the upgrades aim to be completed before next summer’s home matches. In 2020 it was announced that the stadium will have a future capacity of 15,000 but is unclear if plans have changed since then. It currently has a capacity of 9,800.