December 6 – La Liga’s Sevilla have unveiled plans for a large-scale development of their Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
During a turbulent shareholder meeting, it was one of the few positives for Sevilla, although major shareholder Jose Maria del Nido Benavente was clear that he did not agree with the project.
Revealed during the meeting and later pushed out on to the club’s social media, the development plans for the historic ground will see its capacity increase by 11,000- from 44,000 to 55,000 seats.
Upon completion, the stadium will also feature an impressive glass roof in an effort to make the stadium more suitable for the staging of non-football events.
In its entirety the renovation will cost around €300 million, which has divided the club’s hierarchy as Sevilla totalled a loss of €85 million in the last three years.
Despite its developmental nature that should fit the funding criteria, the project does not fall under Boost La Liga investment as was not approved by the La Liga board, who distribute the £2 billion fund to club for infrastructure projects.
The stadium plans were announced off the back of a club representative visit to the UK in November, where all La Liga clubs toured venues in major cities across the country in a bid to better understand how to commercialise stadia.
Sevilla subsequently put forward ambitious plans to not only improve the stadium infrastructure, but develop their reputation and status in the community by developing a suitable stadium for large-scale events outside of football.
With local rivals Real Betis’ Benito Villamarín stadium also undergoing renovations, it is expected that the two teams will share La Cartuja for some time. Such an arrangement poses a logistical challenge, as the venue also hosts some matches for the Spanish national team.
Sevilla has stumbled out of the blocks in the push for a European spot as the Sevillistas sit in an unusually low 15th place in LaLiga despite winning the UEFA Europa League in June. They will look for a change of pace this evening in a second-round Copa Del Rey clash with Atl Astorga.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1735176510labto1735176510ofdlr1735176510owedi1735176510sni@g1735176510niwe.1735176510yrrah1735176510