Stadium Industry Updates 28 March 2023

The latest updates from the stadium industry.

PSG consults fans on future stadium plans

After earlier consulting its ‘VIP’ membership, PSG has now sent out emails to its “most loyal supporters”, according to Le Figaro newspaper. The club has said: “Aware of the scope of its choices in this matter, Paris Saint-Germain intends first to continue its reflection and to carry out wide consultations. “For the club, it will then be time to determine what will be, for many years to come, both the home of the exploits of its first team and a magnificent rallying point for its community of supporters, within which we hope to count you in the future.”

Read more at https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/parc-des-princes-stade-de-france-nouvelle-enceinte-le-paris-sg-consulte-ses-abonnes-pour-son-futur-stade-20230316

Barcelona completes palau Blaugrana renovation

Spanish LaLiga football club FC Barcelona has announced that renovation work at its Palau Blaugrana has been completed. Palau Blaugrana is home to Barcelona’s basketball and handball teams and has a capacity of 7,500. The arena is part of the wide-ranging Espai Barça project to overhaul the club’s facilities with the ultimate goal of delivering a new venue which, in principle, would largely maintain the current exterior design, but increase the capacity to between 10,000 and 15,000.

Read more at https://www.psam.uk.com/Improvement-works-completed-at-Palau-Blaugrana/5328 

Chelsea reportedly pursuing new stadium at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea FC is reportedly considering building a new £2bn stadium on the site of Stamford Bridge, with the Premier League club potentially facing up to four years at a temporary home while the work is carried out.The Daily Mail has reported that Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has “informally approached” Fulham owner Shahid Khan about using the latter’s Craven Cottage during the construction phase. The report adds that Chelsea could use Craven Cottage for the majority of its league games, with the larger Wembley and Twickenham under consideration for higher-profile fixtures.

Read more at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11876727/Chelsea-considering-plan-build-new-2billion-stadium-Stamford-Bridge.html

Civitas Metropolitano to host World Rugby Sevens

Cívitas Metropolitano, home of Spanish LaLiga football club Atlético de Madrid, has been awarded hosting rights for the grand final of the reimagined World Rugby Sevens Series for the next three years. The agreement between World Rugby and the City of Madrid begins with the 2023-24 season, which will mark the first campaign of the remodelled series.

World Rugby announced plans to revamp its Sevens World Series back in November, placing an importance on the ‘sportainment’ aspect of the format and creating gender parity. The new-look series, which begins in December, will include seven festival-style events in seven global destinations across seven months, featuring the best 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams. The Metropolitano has been announced as the host of the first three editions of the series finale. The first event will take place in June 2024 and will consist of a three-day festival of on-field action and off-field entertainment.

Read more at: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1135071/madrid-host-grand-final-rugby-sevens#:~:text=Madrid%20has%20been%20confirmed%20as,venue%20in%20the%20Spanish%20capital.

Allianz adds 10 more years to FC Bayern stadium naming rights

German Bundesliga football club Bayern Munich has extended its sponsorship deal with shareholder and stadium naming rights partner Allianz. The Munich-headquartered financial services company first partnered with Bayern in 2000 and has held naming rights to the Allianz Arena since it opened in April 2005.

The pact between the two organisations has now been extended for a further 10 years, through to 2033. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but German media reports state that it has significantly increased in value to around €130m (£114.1m/$140.3m) over the contract term.

Read more at: https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/bayern-munich-allianz-arena-naming-rights-extension/?zephr_sso_ott=U5YR52

Oxford united reaches MoU for stadium plans

Oxford United’s plans to develop a new stadium have moved a step forward, with Oxfordshire County Council agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the project. The League One football club currently plays at the Kassam Stadium, but does not own the venue and its lease deal to play at the 12,500-seat facility expires in 2026. The County Council’s Cabinet has now approved an agreement with United to govern open and transparent relations between the two parties while they work to explore the impact of a new stadium for the club on council owned land.

Read more at: https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxford-united-stadium-proposals/

Coordinated jumping banned at Telia Parken due to safety concerns

The Danish Football Union (DBU) has followed Superliga club FC København (FCK) in warning fans against “coordinated jumping” at Parken amid structural concerns at the stadium. FCK took action last week ahead of Sunday’s Superliga match against Viborg, following the findings of an investigation carried out by architecture, engineering and consultancy company Rambøll. On the basis of the investigation by Rambøll, Parken management have requested an end to coordinated jumping in the B stand for FCK matches. The DBU said this will also apply to tomorrow’s game whilst further investigation takes place.

Read more at: https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2023/03/22/parken-management-address-structural-concerns-network-of-the-future-installed/

Cagliari names new stadium after club legend Riva

Cagliari City Council has unanimously approved a motion presented by Mayor Paolo Truzzu that the new home of Serie B football team Cagliari be named after club, and Italian national team legend, Gigi Riva. The proposal put forward by Truzzu received the backing of all 29 voters, with Riva now set to be the face of the venue that had gone under the working title of Cagliari Arena. The idea was put to the vote after Truzzu first sought approval from Riva, who is now 78.

Read more at: https://www.italiani.it/en/cagliari-the-stadium-named-after-the-shore/

Fiorentina stadium revamp will see 2-season temporary home

Italian Serie A football club Fiorentina will require a temporary home for two seasons whilst redevelopment of the Stadio Artemio Franchi takes place, according to Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella. The Municipality of Florence owns the historic stadium and is leading its renovation project. In March 2022, the Italian division of engineering and design consultancy Arup was selected to lead the revamp, securing the architectural and multidisciplinary design contract.

Read more at: https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2023/03/22/fiorentina-set-for-two-season-stay-away-from-franchi/

RC Lens turns to crowdfunding for stadium plans

According to L’Équipe, RC Lens have embarked on a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the exterior renovation of its iconic Bollaert-Delelis stadium. The initiative is part of the club’s effort to expand fan ownership, with the ultimate goal of allowing supporters to hold a small stake in the stadium until 2052. The club is offering commemorative plaques to fans, which will be displayed on the stadium’s gates. The plaques will be personalised with the donor’s name, a message, and a unique date, and will be numbered for identification purposes.

Read more at: https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2023/rc-lens-launches-crowdfunding-campaign-for-bollaert-delelis-stadium-renovation/

AC Milan proposes “La Maura” as new stadium site

Italian Serie A football club AC Milan has confirmed Ippodromo Snai La Maura, an equestrian and horse racing facility located close to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, as its targeted site for a new stadium. The latest development follows meetings held yesterday (Thursday) between an AC Milan delegation led by Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of the club’s US ownership group RedBird Capital Partners, and senior officials from the Municipality of Milan and Lombardy Region.

Read more at: https://sempremilan.com/repubblica-three-rings-70k-milan-la-maura

OH Leuven organises Game for the future

Belgian first division team OH Leuven organised a “game for the future” when it played against RSCA Anderlecht in its Kingpower at Den Dreef stadium on 19 March. By focusing on energy production, sustainable transport, catering and waste management together with partners Eneco, futureproofed, Leuven 2030 and the Pro League, OHL organized this game to create more awareness about the ecological impact of a football game.

Read more at: https://www.ohleuven.com/gameforthefuture/