On October 11, Valencia CF presented the executive project for Nou Mestalla at the Valencia City Council office. This marks the completion of an important stage prior to the resumption of work on the stadium reconstruction, which will take place in January 2025.

6 GB of very important documents

The documentation, which according to information provided by the club consists of 1,500 plans and 4,500 pages of data, including 1,268 related to budgets, was delivered by Operations Director Christian Schneider. The presented documentation has received approval from the Higher School of Architects. The club has made a list of references and documents available online, although due to the project's size, which is as much as 6 GB, not all documentation has been provided.

The executive project is an extension of the basic project of Nou Mestalla presented by the club in January, focusing on the materials for the exterior structure and interiors, as well as various types of installations. It also includes detailed information regarding evacuation areas, access, and fire safety. These purely technical specifications cover important elements such as concrete structures, metal structure, a roof that will cover 100% of the 70,000 seats, and facades that will still have balconies in a Mediterranean style.

© Valencia CF

It will be more expensive than expected

Due to rising material costs, Valencia has revised and increased the work budget by €20 million, according to AS. At last year's shareholders' meeting, President Layhoon Chan admitted that Valencia will invest a total of €340 million in the stadium, of which €172 million has already been allocated for the concrete skeleton.

€80 million of this amount will come from the CVC fund, €35 from the sale of services provided to Atitlan, and another €55 from loans. However, as costs have increased, this amount has reached €190 million. Therefore, the club has initiated negotiations with Goldman Sachs for a global refinancing of up to €120 million.

© Valencia CF

Time for a thorough audit. Will they make it by January 12?

The City Council was to analyse all the information presented and this was used to request an external audit approved by the Government Board. This audit will assess whether Valencia's budget estimates for this project are aligned with market conditions. Papi Robles, the spokesperson for the Compromís group, stated that the audit must be as comprehensive and rigorous as possible to determine actual costs, not "any Lima estimates" concerning Valencia's largest shareholder, adding that if unfinished work is left again, a refund can be demanded 'to the last penny.

A representative from Compromís also pointed out that the part of the stadium's structure being built has been exposed for years to adverse environmental conditions, without maintenance, which could have affected its structural integrity and noted that there are many elements to consider when evaluating the costs of this new project.

© Valencia CF

At the same time, in the coming weeks, Valencia CF will provide new documentation, although it will already concern the aesthetic part of both the exterior and interior of the facility: facades, colors of seats, and similar details. The next step will be to reach an agreement on payments with construction companies so that work can resume on January 12. Earlier, in December, Valencia plans to present a model of the stadium and all details regarding the experiences fans will have during each match.