Grand Stade de Tanger – design description

What is the redevelopment of Grand Stade de Tanger like in a nutshell?

The reconstruction of Grand Stade de Tanger began in late 2020. Due to a change in plans during construction, the upgrade actually has two phases. The first phase involved the expansion of the stands on the curves, which were ready at the beginning of 2023. In the summer of 2023, however, the removal of the athletics track and the expansion of the stands in the lower part began. The work is expected to last until 2025.

After the expansion, the stadium will have a football-specific profile and will accommodate 75,600 spectators (out of an initial 45,000). The stadium is expected to host matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup.

What does Grand Stade de Tanger look like?

Grand Stade de Tanger (also referred to as Stade Ibn Batouta) was built between 2002 and 2011 according to a design by JK Architecture (chief arch. Jawad Khattabi). The facility was built in the southwestern suburbs of Tangier, on the main exit road.

The stadium was equipped with an athletics track and stands with a capacity of 45,000 spectators. A roof was built over the auditorium on the west side. The facility serves as the main, representative stadium for a city in northern Morocco with a population of nearly one million. The football club Ittihad Riadhi de Tanger, which in 2018 reached the national championship for the first time, plays its matches at the stadium.

When were the stands on the curves at Grand Stade de Tanger expanded?

Initially, the stands on the curves were much lower than those along the pitch, but the design included the possibility of expanding them and making them equal in height to the rest of the auditorium. The curves were eventually decided to be enlarged, and work officially began on December 16, 2020.

A new, expanded design was prepared, which, in addition to enlarging the curves, also included shielding the exterior reinforced concrete colonnade with an eye-catching façade. The new plans were drawn up by cabinet d'architecture Anouar Amaoui Gueriri.

The work dragged on, but the expansion of the curves was completed just in time for the Club World Cup, which was scheduled for February 2023 (the competition was held at Grand Stade de Tanger and Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat). However, before the championships, the façade was not completed (only part of the metal structure was built, without a shell).

With the expansion, the venue's capacity increased to 65,000 spectators. On March 26, 2023, the stadium also hosted a prestigious friendly match, in which, with full stands, the Moroccan national team defeated Brazil 2–1.

When did the reconstruction of Grand Stade de Tanger into a football-specific facility begin?

After the Club World Cup, work on the new façade continued. In addition, plans changed and it was decided to make further changes to the stands' structure.

The new plans called for the elimination of the athletics track, the lowering of the pitch and the addition of a new ring of stands in the lower part, so that the facility would receive a football-specific character. A new roof was also to be built, covering the entire auditorium. The capacity of the stadium after reconstruction is to increase to 75,600 spectators.

Work on removing the athletics track and expanding the lower part of the stands began on July 28, 2023 (although dismantling of the seats had already begun a little earlier). The reconstruction is expected to last until 2025.

An account of Grand Stade de Tanger expansion can be seen on a separate subpage

What major events are expected to take place at Grand Stade de Tanger?

Plans to convert the stadium into a football-specific venue have been made with a view to hosting more major international events. Morocco has applied to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and to co-host the 2030 World Cup.

Both of these bids proved successful: On September 27, 2023, Morocco was announced as the host of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and on October 4, 2023, the organization of the 2030 World Cup was awarded to Morocco, Spain and Portugal (along with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, which is to host one game each at the start of the tournament).

Grand Stade de Tanger is scheduled to host matches in both of these tournaments. It is possible that during the 2030 World Cup there will even be a semifinal in Tangier.

What are the assumptions behind the redevelopment of Grand Stade de Tanger?

When the expansion of the stadium began, the main objectives of the project were to expand the stands on the curves so that they equaled the height of the rest of the auditorium, as well as to create an attractive façade.

During construction, the scope of work expanded significantly. Additional plans call for the elimination of the athletics track, the lowering of the pitch by 8 meters, the construction of an additional ring of stands and new skyboxes in the lower part, as well as the creation of a new canopy to cover the entire auditorium.

Since it was not decided to build a new football stadium from scratch, the facility will retain its original oval form.

After the expansion of the curves, the stadium's capacity increased from 45,000 to 65,000 spectators. With the addition of an additional ring at the bottom, the capacity is expected to reach 75,600 spectators, of which 5,800 are premium seats.

The first official rendering showing the full scope of the redevelopment only appeared at the end of July 2024, on the occasion of the publication of Morocco, Spain and Portugal's offer to host the 2030 World Cup (bid book).

The rendering reveals only the exterior of the facility after the reconstruction. It shows that the façade is to be built in the same shape as already assumed in 2020, the change however is a new membrane roof.