Nou Mestalla is set to set a new standard in Spain in terms of the quality of the viewing experience and the comfort of the stands. According to a report published by the club, the stadium will be the best in the country in its category.

Advanced analysis

Valencia CF based its conclusions on the results of an advanced analytical tool called ɸ FACTOR, developed by Fenwick Iribarren Architects, the main designer of Nou Mestalla. This system is used for parametric analysis of viewing quality and comfort in football stadiums. It has already been successfully used during the 2022 World Cup and now allows for the evaluation of the planned facility in Valencia.

The basic aspects of the stadium evaluation are divided into two main categories. The first is ɸ FACTOR I, which is an analysis of the quality of vision, taking into account key factors such as the proximity of the stands to the pitch, the C value (the only standard recognised by FIFA and UEFA for assessing visibility), the viewing angle and the orientation of each seat. The second is ɸ FACTOR II, which analyses the level of comfort, taking into account, among other things, the width of the stands, the type of seating, the distance to sanitary and catering facilities and the degree of roofing of the stands.

© Fenwick Iribarren Architects / Valencia CF | Design of Nou Mestalla

Nou Mestalla will be the best stadium in Spain

The analysis shows that Nou Mestalla achieved a score of 438.4 points in the view quality category, making it the best stadium in Spain in this respect. In comparison, stadiums such as Santiago Bernabéu, Spotify Camp Nou (before renovation) or Riyadh Air Metropolitano scored between 350 and 395 points, which shows the new Valencia stadium is far ahead of the competition.

Nou Mestalla also scores highly in terms of comfort and safety. Compared to Allianz Arena in Munich, which was previously considered one of the most comfortable stadiums in Europe, the new Valencia stadium scores better with more spacious stands and better infrastructure.

© Fenwick Iribarren Architects / Valencia CF | Design of Nou Mestalla

Valencia is fighting for the 2030 World Cup final

At the same time, the Valencian authorities are taking steps to reinstate the city as one of the hosts of the 2030 World Cup. Valencia was not originally included in the list of cities that will host the tournament. However, the regional branch of the Socialist Party (PSPV) is now arguing that Valencia should become host of the final, which could help to rebuild the city's prestige and sports tourism after the recent floods.

The PSPV emphasises that Valencia has extensive experience in organising major sporting events such as the Copa América, Formula 1 races and the Davis Cup. In addition, the city has a modern transport infrastructure, including an international airport, a high-speed rail network and a well-developed public transport system.