Update on Sparta Rotterdam's stadium and training facilities redevelopment project
As part of ESSMA’s Stadium Development Report Issue 1 2019, ESSMA visited Sparta Rotterdam and discussed the club’s redevelopment plans for its current Sparta Stadium and the training facilities at Terbregge with Manfred Laros - Director of Sparta Rotterdam - and Kevin Valkenburg - P&O and Legal Affairs - as they are both closely involved in the project.
We are a football club first, so we have to make sure that our first team is well- facilitated in order to train well. Secondly, the youth training is very important for Sparta because ultimately it generates both talent and money for us as a club.”
Kevin Valkenburg, P&O and Legal Affairs Sparta Rotterdam
Phase 1 of the project includes upgrading and expanding the training centre facilities so all Sparta teams can train there. Currently, the first team trains on the synthetic pitch at Sparta Stadium. Phase two of the project includes Sparta Stadium, which is in need of renovation. The public and catering facilities, as well as the sanitary facilities have become inadequate. The club wants to renovate and expand the stadium but will have to use the limited space that is available as efficiently as possible.These works can only start after the completion of the training centre and once the first team has moved away from the stadium.
“When they were first constructed, the training facilities and the stadium of Sparta Rotterdam were some of the most modern sports facilities in the Netherlands. Sparta Rotterdam was the only club in the Netherlands with 34 skyboxes. Now, the infrastructure of our club has become old and outdated. With our now project, we want to prepare for the next 20 years.”
Manfred Laros, Director Sparta Rotterdam
Access ESSMA's Stadium Development Report Issue 1 2019 on the ESSMA Knowledge Platform and learn more about the importance of youth development, transparency, community, sustainability, the capacity at Sparta Stadium and more.