Stadium Industry Updates - 6 August 2024
Verona plans to redevelop Stadio Marc’antonio Bentegodi, new fanzone to open by Newcastle United, Suadi Arabia bold World Cup stadium plans, Arsenal started internal conversations on plans Emirates Stadium and much more in our latest stadium industry updates.
Verona plans to redevelop Stadio Marc’antonio Bentegodi
The Municipality of Verona has unveiled a comprehensive plan to reconstruct Stadio Marc’antonio Bentegodi in anticipation of the UEFA Euro 2032, which will be co-hosted by Italy and Turkey. This new proposal supersedes earlier plans from December 2019, which had called for replacing the stadium with a new venue at a different location.
The existing stadium, which currently seats nearly 40,000, will see its capacity reduced to around 30,000. However, the revamped facility will feature an array of new amenities, including multifunctional spaces, a gym, student accommodations, and other community-oriented areas. A key upgrade will be the addition of a retractable pitch, enabling the stadium to host a variety of sporting and cultural events throughout the year. In addition to these enhancements, the redevelopment will address environmental concerns by minimizing light pollution, reducing noise and improving the stadium's overall sustainability.
The Municipality has also stated that it has plans to build a temporary stadium to accommodate Hellas Verona during the reconstruction of the new Bentegodi, ensuring that the team can continue to play their matches without interruption. Opened in 1963, Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi is owned by the Municipality of Verona and serves as the home ground for Serie A club Hellas Verona. The stadium also notably hosted matches during the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Newcastle's new Fanzone to open on August 8
Newcastle United has announced the opening of a new 3,000-capacity fanzone, sponsored by Saudi Arabian experiences company Sela, which also serves as the club’s shirt sponsor. The fanzone will debut in time for the Sela Weekender, a two-day event featuring pre-season matches between Newcastle and Girona FC on August 9 and Newcastle and Stade Brestois on August 10. The innovative fanzone is constructed from 56 repurposed shipping containers and features a central plaza, a main stage and large screens. Designed to enhance the matchday experience, it will also serve as a vibrant social and leisure spot for the public during the week. The fanzone will be open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight.
Saudi Arabia reveals bold World Cup stadium plans
FIFA has published the official bid books for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cups, highlighting Saudi Arabia's particularly ambitious plans. Saudi Arabia’s proposal includes the construction of 11 new stadiums, with a notable concentration of eight venues in the capital, Riyadh.
The latest addition to the list is the King Salman Stadium, designed by Populous, which will boast a capacity of 92,000. Located in northern Riyadh, the stadium is expected to open in 2029 and will host matches during the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Covering more than 660,000 square meters, it will feature extensive facilities including two training fields, fanzones, an indoor gym, an Olympic swimming pool, an athletics track, volleyball courts, basketball courts, padel courts and various shopping and recreational areas. Sustainable cooling systems will be installed in both the stands and on the playing surface and the roof will include a 'walking path'.
Additional announced stadiums include the ROSHN Stadium and the New Murabba Stadium each with a capacity of 45,000, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium with a capacity of 46,979 and the South Riyadh Stadium holding 47,060 spectators. Planned future venues include the Qiddiya Stadium (46,096 capacity), the King Abdullah Economic City Stadium (45,700 capacity) and the NEOM Stadium (46,010 capacity), which will be elevated 350 meters above ground.
Three more stadiums are under construction: the Aramco Stadium (46,096 capacity) slated for completion in 2026 and the King Fahd Sports city stadium and the Jeddah Central Development Stadium each with a capacity of 45,000 and expected to be ready by 2027. All new stadiums are projected to be completed by 2032.
Arsenal started internal conversations on plans Emirates Stadium
Arsenal FC has initiated internal discussions regarding a potential redevelopment of the Emirates Stadium, according to co-chair Josh Kroenke. Since its opening in 2006, following the move from Highbury Stadium, the 60,704-seat Emirates Stadium has seen various upgrades, including new giant screens and roof repairs. However, the club is exploring options for a more extensive redevelopment to meet the growing demand for match tickets. Kroenke suggested that significant changes might be on the horizon as Arsenal plans for the future. The stadium, which serves as the home ground for Arsenal's men’s team, will also host eight Women's Super League (WSL) matches and, pending qualification, three UEFA Women’s Champions League fixtures next season. Should Arsenal Women advance further in the Champions League, the Emirates could also host knockout matches.
For the upcoming season, all of Arsenal Women’s remaining fixtures, including domestic cup games, will be held at the Mangata Pay UK Stadium in Borehamwood. Last season, Arsenal Women played six WSL matches at the Emirates, drawing an average crowd of 52,029.
Tottenham receives green light to expand events offering
Tottenham Hotspur has been granted approval to significantly expand the range of non-football events held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Haringey Council has approved the club's application, which follows a thorough consultation process with local residents and businesses. As part of the approval, Tottenham Hotspur committed to several measures in response to community feedback. This includes maintaining its community ticket scheme, which provides local residents and community organisations with complimentary tickets to events at the stadium. With the new approval, the stadium can now host up to 30 non-football events yearly, each accommodating over 10,000 attendees, an increase from the previous limit of 16 events.
URC Achieves historic Attendance and Broadcasting records
The United Rugby Championship (URC), featuring teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales, has achieved remarkable growth in viewership and attendance. The total audience figure soared to 47.7 million, a significant increase from the 37.4 million recorded in 2023. Overseas viewership alone grew by 138%, reaching 6.2 million. Additionally, overall attendances rose by 3% to 1.69 million, with an average crowd of 11,200 per game. URC's success is attributed to enhanced collaboration between clubs, the league, broadcasters and commercial partners. This unified effort has promoted games effectively and attracted fans to venues. Martin Anayi, CEO of the URC added: “There is more collaboration happening between the clubs, the league, the broadcasters and commercial partners to promote our games and attract fans to venues. Across the board all of our clubs have made strides to innovate and improve their match-day experiences and as a result supporters are now enjoying a day out that goes beyond the 80 minutes of play. With a number of teams upgrading their stadiums over the next 18 months we believe that these numbers will continue to rise in the long-term with some great examples of best practice being deployed across all of our territories.”
The URC is also the fastest-growing rugby competition online, with a 29% increase in total followers to 1.3 million and a 22% boost in engagement. Key drivers of this growth include TikTok (33%), Facebook (21%) and Instagram (17%). The league's official YouTube channel saw an extraordinary surge in views, jumping from 8.7 million to 40.6 million. An increase of 336% year-on-year. Additionally, the channel's subscriber count surged by 84% to 140,000.