Demolition work at the Benito Villamarín Stadium has come to an end. Trucks are removing the rubble from the Preferencia stand, but Betis has not yet awarded the contract for the construction of the new structure. The club's management wants to carry out an “intermediate phase” so that it can return to its home ground in the 2027/28 season.

An intermediate phase to gain time

We still don't have a contractor for the next phase, admitted last Wednesday Angel Haro, president of Real Betis, just before boarding a plane to Belgium to watch his team face Genk (0-0). Even so, the club's management has a solution to avoid delays - an intermediate phase.

The Erri Berri company has already completed the demolition of the Preferencia (Main) Stand and is now removing the rubble from the structure, after which the site will be ready for preliminary work to begin before the new main stand is erected.

Time is money

It is precisely these tasks that the club's management wants to carry out while continuing the process of searching for a contractor for the main part of the works. We are thinking about the foundations and retaining walls, explained Haro, who added that they will also use the time to define some technical details relating to the roof.

The rush is understandable: Betis wants to return to the Benito Villamarín in autumn of 2027, and although in principle it could continue playing at La Cartuja for a while longer, in the event of delays, its stay there could become complicated. La Cartuja still has the second phase of construction work pending for the 2030 World Cup, so it is unclear how long the Verdiblancos will be able to stay at the stadium.

© Real Betis Balompié | The old Preferencia Stand ceased to exist in a matter of weeks.

A matter of safety

Another issue to be clarified, as detailed by Andalucía Información, is the question of evacuation routes for the new Preferencia stand. Given that it will be just next to the new club building, in the event of an emergency, fans will not be able to exit directly onto the street, but will have to walk between 20 and 100 metres along a corridor between the stand and the building, and most of them will exit onto the square facing the new building, located 5 metres above ground level, from where they will only be able to descend via two staircases.

Although the club claims that the new Benito Villamarín Stadium will improve urban evacuation conditions from the current stadium, the long distance fans would have to travel and the lack of alternative routes casts doubt on the evacuation plans.

© Real Betis Balompié | The club's new building and access to the new Preferencia Stand will open onto the public square, at a height of 5 metres.