StadiumDBNews: January 2014
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Belgrade: New national stadium details needed immediately
Without improvement in stadium infrastructure Serbia may be forced by UEFA to play outside the country. Also, if the country seriously hopes to snap a place among 13 hosts of Euro 2020, national stadium needs to become more realistic, Telegraf.rs reports.
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Sao Paulo: Accident site cleared
After two months the tragic accident site at Arena Corinthians was cleared yesterday. Now work is to resume in this part of the construction, expected to end in April.
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Liverpool: One more step towards Anfield expansion
Liverpool City Council has published a consultation document for the planned £260m regeneration of Anfield. Plans to extend Anfield stadium to a 55,000 capacity ground are at the heart of the wider regeration proposals. A ConstructionEnquirer.com report.
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Madrid: This is Bernabéu 2017!
15 months after the selection of four finalists, Real Madrid finally announced winners of the international competition. As predicted, German GMP Architekten won with their bid.
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Romania: New stadium for Craiova in 2016
In half a year we should see the old stadium's demolition commence, while in October construction works on new Stadionul Ion Oblemenco are to begin. Unfortunately the project has been downscaled, leaving the impressive renderings only a memory.
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Toronto: “We’re going to spend $120 million to build an English Premier stadium”
It seems BMO Field is about to grow, providing that Toronto FC owners convince the city to approve of the upgrade. Not only 50% bigger, the stadium would get a new roof and possibly a new tenant, this time in American football.
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Cape Town: New managing company for Cape Town Stadium
Yesterday saw the city council vote in favour of establishing a municipal entity to operate the stadium built for the 2010 World Cup. Last-minute effort to give it away was dropped.
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New design: The panache of Caracas
Like the colourful feathers of Indian panaches, the vast membrane roof of new national stadium of Venezuela will encircle spectators. The 55,000-capacity giant in Caracas is to be literally incorporated into a hillside.
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Saint Petersburg: Retractable field selection soon
While the stadium is still hugely delayed, the selection of mobile field technology is anticipated in February. Final cost has yet to be established, according to Karpovka.net.
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France: Lens homeless next season?
Redevelopment of Stade Bollaert-Delelis ahead of Euro 2016 will force RC Lens to play outside their home city. Authorities in Lille and Valenciennes would welcome the club at their new stadiums, but host clubs in both cases strongly oppose the move. An info-stades.fr report.
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New stadium: Arena das Dunas
Yesterday saw the very first game at Arena das Dunas. There's still work to be done ahead of the 2014 World Cup, but launching into operation went very well. Apart from attendance, because the stadium was half empty.
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Washington: Citizens against the new DC United stadium?
Recent poll by Washington Post suggests that for every enthusiast of the planned football stadium there are two opponents. Almost 60% don't think engaging public money in this project is a good idea.
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Nantes: Owner appeals for stadium change
Waldemar Kita, owner and president of FC Nantes, appealed to the municipality to engage in building a new stadium for the club. Earlier he asked to consider also a revamp of the current venue. Supporters aren't willing to accept a new one, though. Info-Sades.fr report.
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New design: Latest proposition for De Kuip revamp
The crucial moment is getting closer and Feyenoord will soon be suggested, which option might work best for the club. With deadline for recommendation near major, players step in, presenting their concept of how a 65,000-capacity De Kuip might look.
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Italy: The great derby of Genoa boycotted by both fanbases
To fit TV schedule, the game between Sampdoria and Genoa has been planned for 12:30, a very early time for football. “How much will the derby be worth without any atmosphere, we'll know around 14:15, because we're not going”, wrote one of the leading groups of fans.
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Indianapolis: New MLS-sized stadium planned
It's not another MLS expansion yet, but why wait so long – says Ersal Ozdemir, founder of Indy Eleven. His plan of building a new 18,500-capacity stadium is already underway, though the club hasn't even played its first game in the second league.
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Wales: Swansea city council approve Liberty Stadium expansion
Premier League's smallest stadium has just gained the approval of Swansea City council to grow to some 33,000. The only thing that can stop the ground from reaching the projected size now is... McDonald's.
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Brazil: Hasty opening in Natal with protesters in the background
Late Wednesday afternoon saw officials celebrating the opening of Arena das Dunas in Natal, seventh stadium ready for the 2014 World Cup. Except that it's not ready just yet and politicans also had to bear hundreds of protesters outside, kept there by military police.
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Belgrade: Partizan stadium finally black and white
After numerous appeals from supporters, Partizan is now replacing all seats at the stadium to new ones in club colours. The project is done with Carlsberg breweries, who are to receive an advertising sign made of the seats in return.
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Bristol: Decision made, Ashton Gate remodelling starting in May?
If no-one officially objects within 6 weeks, complete redevelopment of the existing Bristol City stadium will begin already this Spring. The project worth £40 million will raise capacity to almost 27,000 and provide new facilities.
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Stadium of the Year 2013: Let the vote begin!
It's time to start the selection process. For the next month you can thoroughly review all candidates and make your move, selecting 2013's Stadium of the Year. The world's largest open competition of this kind begins now!
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New: Husky Stadium
One of the loudest stadiums throughout American football, perhaps even place of birth of the 'Mexican wave'. Please welcome Husky Stadium at StadiumDB.com before you can vote for in the Stadium of the Year competition!
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Brazil: Sao Paulo will be ready in time
Removal of the collapsed part of the roof began, while additional, temporary stands are under construction. Overall the stadium is said to be 97% ready. FIFA assured the opening game will be held at Arena Corinthians.
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Munich: Allianz Arena to grow to over 75,000 capacity
When first opened, it had 66,000 seats. Then the capacity was increased twice and now exceeds 71,000 for domestic games. Before next season another 4,000 are expected by Bayern.
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Brazil: Curitiba losing World Cup games? FIFA demands guarantees
Though it's Sao Paulo that saw crane falling onto the stands, Curitiba's redeveloped Arena da Baixada is now the most delayed stadium of the 2014 World Cup. Today FIFA questioned the construction pace and threatened to drop the city, unless delivery is guaranteed by February 18.
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Moscow: CSKA Stadium ready by year end?
Interesting declaration comes from Yevgeni Giner, owner of CSKA Moskva. The billionaire announced new stadium should be ready in early 2015 at the latest, though work on one end is yet to begin.
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Barcelona: Camp Nou up for expansion, no new stadium
Europe's largest stadium will be redeveloped by 2021. The board of directors unanimously rejected the option of building a brand new stadium. It proved too expensive, but Camp Nou's revamp will also require a huge effort!
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Pyrotechnics: How will the Swedish debate end?
It's almost a year since Sweden saw its major conference devoted to pyrotechnics at sports games. The debate goes on and seems to be closing to a final. Would this mean legalisation? It's not ruled out for sure.
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Russia: Construction in Nizhny Novgorod to start by year end
Groundbreaking will take place before the end of 2014 – an official confirmed today, assuring the stadium will be ready well ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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Stadium of the Year 2013: Last call for nominations!
After your suggestions we've done a lot of research to check if submitted stadiums are eligible to compete for Stadium of the Year title. Many times the answer was negative, but there's still time to suggest more nominations before the vote begins!
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Minneapolis: Last roof deflation at Metrodome
After 32 years it's no longer a piece of Minneapolis skyline. The pneumatic roof of Metrodome was deflated yesterday as demolition of the stadium is nearing.
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Pyrotechnics: Norway, the promised land?
Last year began with difficult news for Norwegian fans – pyrotechnics were partly banned after two years of legal use. This year it's not the case, Norway remains Europe's most liberal country regarding the use of 'pyro'.
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New stadiums: Aguascalientes and Puebla
They may not be huge, but are both modern and interesting. Because having a fountain behind seats has to be interesting, doesn't it? Please welcome Estadio Victoria and Estadio Universitario de la BUAP at StadiumDB.com.
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Madrid: Coca-Cola to get Bernabéu naming rights?
After revelations about Microsoft, now it's time for Coca-Cola to be named as potential sponsor for Real Madrid's revamped stadium. Supposedly the deal might be worth a stunning €80 million per year!
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Barcelona: Giant necropolis under Camp Nou?
Whether at the revamped Camp Nou or completely new stadium, there will be room for 30,000 urns for those wanting to 'bond for eternity' with FCB. This is expected to be the world's largest stadium-based cemetery.
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New stadium: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium
It was supposed to open exactly today, but slight delays caused the family festival to be postponed until January 23. Still, we decided to give you the pre-premiere view of Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium today, it's absolutely worth the rush!
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Poland: Illumination controversies in Warsaw and Gdansk
Two Euro 2012 stadiums are being discussed over their use of night-time illumination. The amber-bowl in Gdansk is blacked-out to cut costs, while National Stadium's white-red facade is used as Warsaw's largest advertising space.
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Belfast: Windsor Park contractor announced
O'Hare and McGovern will soon have a football stadium in their portfolio as the company were announced as general contractors for Northern Ireland's national stadium redevelopment. Belfast Telegraph report.
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San Sebastian: Stadium remodelling for Real Sociedad
After years of stalemate finally most of the financing is secured. Remodelling of famous Estadio Anoeta won't be as impressive as planned a decade ago, but it's going to make the stadium a proper football-specfic one.
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Coventry: “Time to consider a future for Ricoh Arena without a football team”
According to a BBC report, Coventry City Council is willing to consider bids for the Ricoh Arena and the surrounding land. The municipality is aware Coventry City FC aren’t coming back, now it’s time for new business plan for the stadium.
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Santa Clara: Immense number of parking space around Levi’s Stadium
Most expensive stadium currently under construction in the US will see one of the largest parking spot numbers in the world. Over 30,000 spaces are to be available for every event at Levi’s Stadium.
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Liverpool: Everton progressing on new stadium
The relocation to Kirkby didn’t work, renovation and expansion of Goodison would probably become too much of a hustle. What now? The club confirms it’s working closely with the council to build a new stadium within Liverpool boundaries.
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Porto Alegre: ‘Palm-leaf’ membrane installed atop Beira-Rio
This unique roof isn’t completely ready yet, but Estadio Beira-Rio already has all 65 membrane segments mounted over the stands. Each of them resembles a palm leaf.
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England: Premier League against pyrotechnics, supporters... as well
In a smart, simple and almost funny way the Premier League wants to drive people away from lighting flares at football games. And though its campaign caused a lot of irony and criticism across Europe, English fans support it. Vast majority just doesn't see flares as part of their culture.
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Netherlands: No new stadium for Almelo, renovation instead
Heracles Almelo won't see their bold stadium plan come to fruition. The club now abandoned the 15,000-capacity project in favour of complete renovation and expansion of Stadion Polman.
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Saint Petersburg: Zenit tired of waiting for new arena, planning their own stadium?!
As the public-financed new 69,000-seater goes into 6th year of delays, news of Zenit planning a ‘plan B’ modular stadium was released in… Germany. Only after it leaked, the club decided to comment on the issue.
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Winnipeg: Contractor places lien on Investors Group Field
The company that built Investors Group Field has claimed ownership of the facility until $1.9 million is paid up, according to Winnipeg Sun. Stuart Olson Dominion has placed a lien against BBB Stadium Inc.
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Nuremberg: Naming rights owner to satisfy fans with new stadium name?
In three years the naming rights deal with Grundig is over and Grundig Stadion will be no more. How would the new stadium name sound? Perhaps Max-Morlock-Stadion, as fans have been appealing for years? New sponsor is willing to leave name up to fans.
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Germany: Location for new Freiburg stadium selected
This is just one step forward for this project, but a very important one. 23 locations have been eliminated and one final plot selected for the new stadium. Completing it may be a matter of survival in the Bundesliga for SC Freiburg in the long run.
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Italy: Reggiana supporters protest absurd stadium problems
They financed the stadium themselves, but now their club isn’t even host any more. They’re guests at their own home and are outraged about it. Today they took to the streets after weeks of other protests.
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Rotterdam: Lowering the pitch enough to get 20,000 more seats?!
If the football field gets lowered by 165cm, capacity could get as high up as 70,000 seats, claims the renowned architecture practice Zwarts en Jansma, making headlines throughout the Netherlands.
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Munich: Bayern pays 40% of away tickets at Arsenal to ease supporters
On one hand it’s what the club describes as “small thank you” gesture. On the other, it’s another argument for those criticizing skyrocketing ticket prices at Arsenal, who reportedly have the world’s most expensive away section.
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London: Lionel Road contractor selected
New 20,000-capacity stadium has both the planning permission and contractor. All indications suggest that Brentford FC may in fact be the first London-based club after Arsenal to have a new stadium, though others began their attempts much earlier.
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New design: Finally a change for Brasov
It’s been over 20 years since the old stadium in Brasov was to be changed. In the meantime it was closed, then demolished and still no new stadium was built. That should soon change, because funding is finally secured. At least partly.
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Salzburg: Breakthrough? Austria to expand stadium
Three kilometers south of the Red Bull Arena a much smaller stadium is located, the MyPhone Austria Stadion. This is where Austria, club ruined by the energy drink giant is being rebuilt step by step by its fan community. Now they presented expansion plans for their home ground.
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Netherlands: PSV want to Reach 50,000 seats by 2020
It’s either a huge expansion of Philips Stadion or a brand new stadium outside city centre. Whichever option is found best by PSV Eindhoven, the long term plan is to grow by at least 40% in terms of available capacity.
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New stadiums: Six giants from China
This is only the very first portion of new Chinese stadiums. Throughout the enormous country new, sometimes beautiful stadiums are popping up and we’ll be showing more! For now it’s these six, one of which will be nominated to become Stadium of the Year 2013!
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Debrecen: Stadium to be ready within 3 months
The time frame for this stadium was always a very tight one. However, not only will the contractors meet all deadlines, but even finish earlier. The 20,000-capacity new arena is to begin tests in early April to host its first event already one day after construction formally ends.
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Singapore: ‘Causeway derby’ to open Sports Hub?
Singapore and Malaysia are just meters away from one-another, connected with a causeway. I a few months they may clash both on the pitch and in the stands of world’s largest dome.
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Stadium of the Year 2013: Time to nominate!
Just like every year, we invite you to propose nominees before the Stadium of the Year vote begins. We created an initial list of eligible stadiums, but count on you to suggest more, if you think we missed any worthy building.
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Ethiopia: Preparatory works Begin for impressive national stadium
Huge quarter in eastern Addis Ababa is being cleared to make way for construction of the new 60,000-seat national stadium. This is the very largest sports project in this part of Africa in decades.
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Zagreb: Only two covered stands at Maksimir
Mayor of Zagreb declares the completion of Stadion Maksimir will be cheap, but this means only two stands will be covered and no new infrastructure is planned at the ground. A new national training centre is to be erected next to the stadium.
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Lisbon: Exceptional farewell for Eusébio
His monument in front of Estádio da Luz has been covered in scarves and flowers since yesterday, when fans first heard of their legend’s passing. Today Eusébio took his last round of honour and the coffin was placed in the Centre of the stadium, accompanied by applause, chants and pyrotechnics.
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Marseille: Roof installation over last stand begins
2014 begins impressively in Marseille, where the very last side of Stade Vélodrome just began receiving its cover. This marks the last major phase of the famous stadium’s redevelopment.
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New construction: Stadion ŁKS-u Łódź
Current images are rather sad and sentimental as the old stadium, one of Poland’s most well known, is being demolished. Soon it will be replaced by training pitches, while a brand new ground is to be built north of the site, initially with only one stand.
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New design: Scunthorpe United Stadium
It’s been confirmed in December and already now we see how the desired new ground of The Iron should look. Of course these are initial renderings, but the aspirations of the League Two side are admirable!
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New stadiums: Geel and Boussu
One from Wallonia, one from Flanders. The two latest additions to our Belgian stadium list were brought to you thanks to groundhopping trips by Stephan Hoogerwaard!
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USA: New hockey attendance record? Not just yet
Another giant winter hockey game behind us at Michigan Stadium. Now the question on everyone’s mind is how many people actually showed up to watch it. If the number is close to the amount of tickets sold, we may have a new record for any hockey game in history.
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New stadiums: Atlanta, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Eugene
The latest additions to StadiumDB.com see two stadiums that are going to be demolished very soon. Then there’s the stadium seen as one of the worst in NFL. And finally Autzen Stadium, where it never rains, even when everyone’s soaked…
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StadiumDB.com: New Year’s resolution time
We’ve summed up what was best and worse in 2013, now it’s time to get a plan for 2014. We’ve got ours and want to know, what would you like to see at StadiumDB.com as well.
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Natal: Arena das Dunas set alight for the first time
2013 ended in an unexpected way for many citizens of Brazilian Natal. 2 hours before midnight on New Year’s Eve all lights at Arena das Dunas were lit in the very first test ahead of upcoming opening.
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EU: European Commission scanning state aid in stadium construction and operation
The Commission is running a Europe-wide investigation into public aid regarding sports infrastructure. After clearing financial schemes in France, Belgium and Hungary, more countries are now seeing their projects examined.
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Waco: Baylor University honour McLane family with stadium name
Baylor University announced it would name its new football stadium after one of the most distinguished alumni families in history. The name McLane Stadium honors Drayton McLane Jr. and his family's continuing generosity to the University and lengthy history of service to Baylor.
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