Some consider the Braga City Stadium to be the prettiest in Europe, while others may find it ugly. Whatever your preference, Estádio AXA started its modernisation in early July 2024, which is likely to be completed during the 2024/25 season.

New era of city stadium

Located in one of the oldest Christian cities in the world, Estádio Municipal de Braga is entering a new era, or version 2.0 of the facility, as defined by the club media. The work, which began at the beginning of July 2024, aims to significantly improve the fan experience.

Several changes will be made to the Braga City Stadium. First and foremost, there will be a replacement of the sound system throughout the facility, which will improve the sound quality during the local club's matches. In addition, new lighting is planned for the stands and pitch. The pitch will be illuminated with LED lights and the stands will be able to shine in the colours of the team - red or white and red.

The screen on the famous stone wall will be replaced, keeping the current dimensions. The main difference is the use of the latest generation of LED technology. In addition, it is planned to replace the grass with completely new turf. It is likely that all the work will not be completed before the start of the 2024/25 season, but in the first weeks of the games.

© scbraga.pt

And what does Estádio Municipal de Braga 1.0 look like?

Braga's football stadium was built on the site of a former quarry that dominated the city, hence its nickname - A Pedreira, meaning the quarry. The stands were built along the pitch, which perfectly blends the facility into the stony landscape of the hill.

The construction of the stadium alone cost more than €60 million, but the costs were much higher due to the difficult stone ground. A spacious tunnel of as much as 5,000 square metres was created between the massive stands. Another interesting solution is a rope-spanning roof between the stands, supposedly modelled on Inca bridges.

The stadium is rarely full, as the local team Sporting Braga does not attract as many spectators. The venue operates under the commercial name Estadio AXA, however the sponsorship deal is not recognised by the city authorities who own the stadium.

© scbraga.pt