By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 26 – Municipal authorities in Oslo have approved a plan to build a new stadium for Valerenga. The new facility will allow the Norwegian side to move from Ullevaal, the country’s national stadium, where it currently plays its home matches.
The new sports complex will be located in Valle-Hovin, in the western part of Norway’s capital city.
“This is an important step in this project,” said Anders Røberg-Larsen from the urban development committee of the city council. “What needs to be done now is just the transfer of the site. Since a clear majority in the city council already supports this, we expect a decision to be made soon.”
It is expected that Valerenga will be allowed to acquire the land plot for a symbolic price of NOK 1 (€0.12). Club representatives say the facility could be opened in August 2016.
According to earlier media reports, the cost of the new stadium and a neighboring school is estimated to be about NOK 400 million (€49m million), with related infrastructure investments costing a further NOK 250 million (€30.6 million). The school is to be leased by the club to provide Valerenga with a revenue stream to finance its sports facility. In addition, club representatives have said they will sell the naming rights for the new stadium.
Valerenga plays in the Tippeligaen, the top tier of Norway’s professional football league.
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