January 7 – Benfica Football Club has announced ambitious plans to expand their iconic stadium in Lisbon to a 70,000-seat capacity.
Revealed in December and already underway, the project aims to accommodate the club’s ever-growing fan base.
The announcement coincided with the 70th anniversary of the original Estádio da Luz, which had an official maximum capacity of 120,000 before it was demolished to make way for the current version of the stadium in 2002. At present it can hold 65,592 fans.
“It’s the perfect time to share something we’ve been working on and which is already in motion,” said club president Rui Costa at the December opening of the latest ‘Casa do Benfica’ facility in Arouca.
“We want more members and fans to experience the joy of supporting our club. Although the Estádio da Luz is already the largest and most imposing stadium in the country, I am proud to announce we will be increasing its capacity to 70,000 seats so that more members and fans can enjoy the unique opportunity of supporting.
“With practically all games sold out, thousands of members and fans are unable to attend our matches, as are thousands on the waiting list to have access to a Red Pass. That’s why we want more.”
The Estádio da Luz is one of three Portuguese venues that will be used during the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Portugal will co-host the tournament alongside Spain and Morocco.
The ground would already have been the largest of the three Portuguese venues selected for the tournament, surpassing Sporting Clube de Portugal’s Estádio José Alvalade (50,095 seats) and FC Porto’s Estádio do Dragão (50,033 seats).
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1736343748labto1736343748ofdlr1736343748owedi1736343748sni@g1736343748niwe.1736343748yrrah1736343748