Stadium Industry Updates 20 June 2023
The latest updates from the European stadium industry!
FAI’s €390 million plan to transform Irish football stadiums
Irish football chiefs have outlined plans for a €390m cash boost that would see the construction of at least 10 stadiums with a capacity of more than 10,000 in the next 15 years. In their ‘Facility Investment Vision and Strategy for Irish Football’, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has earmarked a total of €863m in spending, which would be put towards League of Ireland (LOI) stadiums and facilities, grassroots facilities and the development of an elite national training centre in Abbotstown. The €390m would be spent on building an academy and training hub for every LOI club, transforming in-stadium fan experience and broadcast product, and fit-for-purpose stands, structures and amenities.
Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65836095
Images of possible Hampden Park renovation revealed
Architecture firm Holmes Miller has revealed renderings of how a revamped Hampden Park could look with a retractable roof and a translucent external façade.
The Glasgow venue, home of Scotland’s national football team, opened in 1903 and last underwent renovation work in 1999. It has a current capacity of over 51,000.
New images, first reported by BBC Scotland and now available to view on Holmes Miller’s website, show a vision of 65,000-seat Hampden Park with a steep terraced bowl.
Read more at: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/first-look-proposed-new-hampden-27096587
Deezer to bring interactive experience to Paris La Défense Arena.
Global music streaming platform Deezer has been unveiled as the official experiential partner of Paris La Défense Arena, home of Top 14 rugby union club Racing 92 and a regular host of major concerts. As part of the three-year agreement, which begins next week when the stadium hosts two P!nk concerts, Deezer will curate interactive activities in and around the venue. The domed stadium has a capacity of up to 43,000, making it the largest indoor venue in Europe. Deezer will have a presence at all sports and music events held at the stadium and will introduce initiatives such as big-screen karaoke. Deezer will also give fans the opportunity to access one-of-a-kind experiences connected to events at the stadium, while the company will provide music for Racing 92’s post-match parties.
Read more at: https://www.deezer-blog.com/press/deezer_partnership_paris_la_defense_arena/
AC Fiorentina considering rugby stadium as temporary home during renovation works
Italian Serie A football club Fiorentina is exploring the possibility of building a temporary stadium while renovation work is carried out at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Fiorentina is planning a €193.4m redevelopment of the Franchi, which opened in 1931 and has a current capacity of around 43,000. Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella said in March that the club would require a temporary home for two seasons while the project is carried out. Fiorentina general manager Joe Barone has revealed that discussions have been held with Nardella regarding an expansion of a nearby rugby facility that could serve as the club’s temporary home. Barone said that a temporary structure with 16,000 seats could be built on the site where Firenze Rugby 1931’s home venue currently sits.
Read more at: https://news.italy24.press/sports/622982.html
England and Wales Cricket Board announces hosting venues 2025-2031
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the venues that will host England international matches from 2025 to 2031, which includes two home Ashes series, with the seven-year period designed to grant clubs greater certainty in their long-term infrastructure planning. The announcement comes ahead of the start of this year’s Ashes between England and Australia at Edgbaston stadium, home of Warwickshire, in Birmingham on Friday.
Read more at: https://www.cricexec.com/2023/06/15/ecb-major-match-venues-for-2025-31-announced/#:~:text=England%20Men's%20next%20two%20Test,The%20Ageas%20Bowl%20in%202029.
Getafe CF presents redevelopment plans
Spanish LaLiga football club Getafe has presented plans for a significant redevelopment of its Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. The project sets out to raise capacity at the Coliseum by 3,000 seats from the current figure of around 16,500. A roof is set to be installed across all stands, with only one currently affording coverage from the elements. A 2,000-seat mini stadium will be developed at the club’s Ciudad Deportiva, with Torres also stating that it will pursue a naming rights deal for the new-look venue.
Read more at: https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2023/06/14/getafe-presents-vision-for-new-look-coliseum/
Vitoria SC to focus on solar energy project
Vitória Sport Clube has said it will become one of the first Portuguese Primeira Liga football teams to embark on a major solar energy project, after agreeing a partnership with Sustainable Energy Systems (SES). Under the scheme, two photovoltaic energy production plants will be installed at the club’s Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães, along with its training complex. Some 1,900 photovoltaic panels will be introduced in total, with Vitória stating the venture will grant it an energy autonomy of around 45%. The project will provide an environmental contribution in the form of avoiding the production of 654 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of planting 4,575 trees. Vitória also believes the plants will be able to supply clean electricity to 351 local households.
Read more at: https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2023/06/16/vitoria-embarks-on-solar-energy-venture-with-ses/
Warta Poznan presents plans for sustainable stadium
Polish Ekstraklasa football club Warta Poznań has presented the initial design concepts for a green-focused stadium, as it seeks to return to its home city.
Warta is currently having to play its games at Stadion Dyskobolii Grodzisk Wielkopolski, which is located around 27 miles southwest of Poznań. The club is seeking to develop a new home in the Droga Dębińska area of the city and said that the finished design will be unveiled soon.
Read more at: https://www.sport.pl/pilka/7,65039,29872641,warta-poznan-pokazala-nowy-stadion-jest-piekny-wiadomo-gdzie.html
Wembley Stadium becomes first dementia-friendly national stadium.
Wembley Stadium has claimed a first among national stadiums after being awarded dementia-friendly status through the FA’s partnership with Alzheimer’s Society. The stadium in London has introduced a series of supporting measures to improve accessibility and increase understanding and knowledge of dementia. These include bespoke training for public-facing staff like matchday stewards, information on ticketing receipts and the Wembley Stadium website and increased visibility of current services available, such as its dedicated lifts and accessible shuttle service.
Read more at: https://www.wembleystadium.com/news/2023/06/12/07/40/Wembley-Stadium-is-dementia-friendly
Atletico Madrid to develop “urban beach facility” near Metropolitano Stadium
Spanish LaLiga football club Atlético de Madrid has teamed up with real estate investment company Stoneweg and investment firm Teras Capital to launch an innovative urban beach facility near its Cívitas Metropolitano stadium. The facility will form part of Atlético’s wider Sports City project, which is also set to include a 6,000-seat mini stadium for its reserve and women’s teams, 25 padel courts, a climbing wall and a skateboarding space. The urban beach project, said to be the largest of its kind in Europe, will feature waves generated by Wavegarden, an engineering company dedicated to the research, design, manufacture, installation and operation of wave-generating systems and surfing lagoons.