November 20 – The Boost LaLiga initiative, introduced in 2021, has seen €2 billion pumped into Spanish league clubs via investors CVC, with the aim of improving overall stadium use across matchday and non-matchday events in order to maximise off-field profits.
To date 18 stadium developments completed or approved across the Spanish top division.
Last week, LaLiga’s clubs toured the UK as part of an initiative to understand how stadiums within the Premier League have adapted to maximise year-round profits.
Milos Nenadovic, Club Infrastructure Consultant at LaLiga, said: “In the UK, venues compete with each other outside of sport, and we are looking to bring this to La Liga in order to retain public interest. This visit focuses on non-matchday events, as we seek to understand how stadiums have been redesigned to maximise revenue from each club and apply this to La Liga through Boost La Liga initiative.”
He continued: “The hospitality sectors of stadiums are very well designed in the UK, there’s a lot we can learn from. In La Liga, that sector must improve- this is about taking the next step toward introducing a wider array of hospitality in La Liga.
“In regards to how to expand the area around each stadium, we aim to share the American philosophy to a point. The goal is to give each fan a reason to come before the game by introducing fan zones and other public-facing commercial spaces.”
Boost LaLiga rules state that of each club’s financial grant, 70% must be spent on developing stadium or training facilities, or at least committed to off-field development. Up to 15% can be put towards squad strengthening and up to 15% on other developments.
Pablo Ortiz Donaire, Commercial Director at Real Betis, said: “We have stadium plans in place with the ambition of becoming a venue, we want to make money every day of the week. Thanks to the boost La Liga initiative, we are also looking to invest in digital furthering for the club.”
La Liga oversees the project which is funded through CVC’s €1.994 billion ($2.1 billion) acquisition of an 8.25% stake in LaLiga’s audiovisual rights for the next 50 years. La Liga has received 70% of the €2 billion, but has only distributed €1billion to clubs to date. Under the rules, clubs must formally present growth initiatives to La Liga before being granted funding.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1735189262labto1735189262ofdlr1735189262owedi1735189262sni@g1735189262niwe.1735189262yrrah1735189262