Reality has exceeded Celta Vigo's expectations. The redevelopment of Estadio Balaídos is still underway, but the club's authorities are already talking openly about the need to plan more work, as there are thousands of people on the waiting list for a season pass. However, it seems that everything depends on the 2030 World Cup.

One reconstruction in progress, another in the pipeline

Just a little while longer and the Gol Stand, built for the 1982 World Cup, will only live in the memories of fans. Following the demolition of the interiors and the surrounding infrastructure of the sector, last Wednesday machines began demolishing the roof and walls of the south end of Estadio Abanca Balaídos. It will be another two years before a new structure with a larger capacity is erected in its place, but the club's authorities already know that this may not be enough.

Tweet Siareiros Galegos https://x.com/siareiros/status/1917485106979053979

— Siareiros Galegos (@Siareiros) June 22, 2024

Two years ago we thought that 28,000 or 29,000 seats would be a lot, says Carlos Cao, director of infrastructure and institutional cooperation of Celta Vigo, quoted by El Desmarque. Now, however, such a capacity seems to fall short. Already in autumn, the waiting list to become a socio counted 4,000 names, and the good season of celestes has only increased interest in season passes.

The club would like to increase the capacity of the Tribuna Stand, already redeveloped in 2015-17, to reach around 31,000 seats. These were also the plans put forward by Vigo mayor Abel Caballero when he declared the city's candidacy for the World Cup in 2030. This decision will have to be made by the city council if we are selected to host the World Cup, Cao states.

© Miguel Ciolczyk Garcia | Increasing the capacity of Balaídos would mean another redevelopment of the Tribuna Stand, as it is the only one with only one level.

Either World Cup clashes or a court battle

The mayor of Vigo is not considering another option. Following the controversial rejection of the olive city's bid in favour of San Sebastián, Caballero launched a media offensive, achieving partial success. On May 12, he will meet with representatives of the Spanish federation in Las Rozas to, as he explains, discover absolutely everything - the scoring, the criteria, the evaluations, the participants in the meetings, the places - and everything is to be confirmed by documents. He threatens to take legal action if Vigo does not become a World Cup host.

Should the mayor succeed in getting Vigo included in the list of hosts for the 2030 World Cup, the stadium will have to undergo major work: in addition to rebuilding the Tribuna sector to have two rather than one level, the city would have to supply over 10,000 temporary seats to reach the 43,000 seats required by FIFA.

However, until 2027, when the 12-year redevelopment is over, Balaídos will have to deal with an insufficient capacity: 20,739 seats plus the 609 chairs in a temporary stand which aims to replace Gol by the end of the current season and help the players in sky blue jerseys return to European competition.

© Alex | When the structure of the old Gol Stand is completely gone, workers will start to lay the foundations for the new stand.