Three decades after the opening of Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes, the Granada City Council has finally announced a long-awaited decision: the four open corners of the stadium will be permanently enclosed. This is set to be the first step towards a broader modernisation of the venue, which has long required a major overhaul.

Historic promise fulfilled after 30 years

The decision was announced by Granada’s mayor, Marifrán Carazo, during the State of the City Debate. She emphasized that commissioning the project fulfills a promise made during her election campaign, as well as a commitment made 30 years ago when the stadium was inaugurated. Back then, it was already anticipated that once Granada’s football team reached professional status, the stadium would be completed with additional stands in the corners.

Fans in Granada breathed a sigh of relief, as the stadium has remained incomplete for the past 30 years. It’s a stark contrast to the fast-paced world of online entertainment, where long waits are no longer acceptable — especially on online betting sites, where users can find out which are the best bonus offers and follow tips for being a pro.

Although Granada CF was promoted to professional football in 2010, supporters still had to endure temporary stands for years, which were often dismantled and reinstalled depending on the season. These provisional structures at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes were frequently criticized, especially by visiting fans, due to concerns about their safety and condition. Now, these makeshift stands will finally be replaced, giving the stadium a cohesive and unified structure.

© Frank Jasperneite

Major investment plan

The corner enclosures are expected to cost €2.5 million, funded by the city's Patrimonio Municipal del Suelo (Municipal Land Heritage Fund). Work will begin once the design phase—currently being finalised—is completed. Importantly, the project won’t stop at filling in the corners.

A broader structural modernisation of the stadium is also on the table, in collaboration with the Diputación de Granada (the provincial government). This institutional partnership aims to secure both financial and operational support for the renovation process. According to Mayor Carazo, the structural upgrades will actually begin before construction on the corners, to best align the schedule with Granada CF's season.

Third pillar: revising stadium concession

The third key initiative involves clarifying the administrative concession of the stadium. For years, the legal status of the venue has been a grey area, particularly given Granada CF’s long-standing requests for a long-term lease. A previous attempt by the socialist government to initiate a concession process failed—even the club chose not to participate in the tender.

The new plan proposes a four-year concession, recommended by the city’s legal advisory council as the most secure and compliant option. This cautious approach stems from the 2018 Libero tax scandal involving Granada CF’s former owner. A guilty verdict in that case could have forced the club to leave the stadium, leaving the city entangled in a long-term contract. Hence, the four-year tender was chosen as a safer solution.

© Pabloseguragarcia8 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Infrastructure to match the club's ambitions

The updated concession terms would allow the stadium to be used not only by Granada CF but also by other sports organisations, opening the door to various events. Notably, future users will be required not just to maintain the stadium but also to invest in further improvements—potentially including an expansion of its seating capacity.

Tender documents are expected to be approved at the next board meeting of the city-owned company Gegsa (Granada Eventos Globales SA). As Mayor Carazo concluded: We must do everything we can to modernise our stadium for the good of the team and its fans. They deserve the upgrades and improvements we are committing to make.