Abanca Balaídos – construction description

This scheme to redevelop aging Estadio Balaidos was developed by local architect Pedro de la Puente Crespo in 2014. It’s the first concept since Vigo’s failed bid to be a 2018 World Cup city with other Spanish and Portuguese hosts. Worth just a fraction of the FIFA bid’s vision, this one is more economic and focuses on efficient redevelopment of the old stadium.

Nicknamed the “New Wave”, it foresees the stadium becoming football-specific and giving all stands (or at least the roof) a uniform height and aesthetics. Lightweight steel cover will be clad with aluminum in a way to create numerous waves throughout the building’s facades and roof. This cost-effective aesthetic intervention should become the signature feature of New Balaidos, honouring maritime traditions of Vigo.

The phased project was divided into several phases, in order not to interrupt Celta’s use of the stadium. In early 2015 the north stand’s lower tier was demolished and replaced with new sections, much closer to the field. Following the 2015/16 season concrete roof over that same stand was removed and replaced by segments of new one, much higher than its predecessor. Aside from new seating and cover, the north side will also get a strip of private boxes and additional facilities under the lower tier.

Following the completion of the reconstruction of the north stand, between 2017 and 2018 the grandstand on the south side was modernised. This included the renovation of the auditorium and backstage area (keeping the entire reinforced concrete structure), the construction of a new canopy and the installation of a façade.

In 2021 another stage of the stadium's reconstruction began, this time involving the demolition of the existing stand behind the western goal and the construction in its place of a new one, located much closer to the pitch. The exact date of completion of this phase is not yet known.

Finally, the reconstruction of the eastern stand will remain to finalise the design. The original cost of the entire project was expected to be less than €30 million, but due to increasing delays and costs associated with phasing, it is expected that the final amount will be significantly higher.