Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla – stadium description

Why was Olympic stadium in Seville built?

Olympic Stadium in Seville was inaugurated by the King of Spain in 1999. It was built to host the 7th World Athletics Championships. The stadium was also part of the City of Seville's Olympic bid for the 2004 and 2008 Games, where it could act as an arena for athletics competitions and the opening and closing ceremonies.

The Sociedad Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla came up with the initiative to have two local football clubs, Sevilla FC and Real Betis, play at the stadium, along the lines of San Siro, where AC Milan and Inter Milan play their matches. However, the idea did not meet with the approval of supporters of both clubs and was not implemented.

Where did name La Cartuja come from?

Olympic Stadium in Seville, like the island on which it is located, takes its name from the Monastery of Saint Mary of las Cuevas, also known as La Cartuja Monastery.

What does Estadio La Cartuja look like?

Estadio La Cartuja is a multi-purpose facility, equipped with an athletics track, which is surrounded by stands with a capacity of about 57,600 spectators, making it the 5th largest stadium in Spain. Along the field, the stands are slightly higher and divided into two tiers, with the main stand located on the west side. On the southern curve, the upper section of the auditorium is replaced by a large “window” that opens toward the city.

The auditorium is equipped with yellow seats, and two corners are equipped with video screens, each measuring 68 sq. m. The stadium has VIP areas and skyboxes. Various rooms are located under the stands and in the corners, with a total of 80,000 sq. m. of usable space. The facility has been equipped with 10 lifts.

From the outside, the stadium has been given an octagonal form, enriched by four adjacent corner buildings that give the whole structure more dynamism. Although the external shape of the venue does not follow the oval composition of the stands, the whole is contained in a coherent, symmetrical and enclosed body.

The auditorium is crowned by a roof that covers 96% of the auditorium. Its granular surface can resemble an unfolded fan. The structure of the roof was based on cables, so that there is no need for high pylons to support it. Tall lighting masts were also eliminated, and the floodlights were set on the edge of the roof.

The use of tall masts and pylons was intentionally avoided to minimize the building's impact on the flat landscape. In addition, the building was partially dug into the ground – out of its 50m height, 15m is below the level of the surrounding terrain, and only 35m protrudes above the surface. The walls of the stadium from the outside are clad with stone slabs. In parts, the facility is also glazed or has an openwork façade.

In addition to the stadium's administration, the four corner buildings house offices for various entities and institutions, including different Andalusian sports associations. There is also a fitness center and a four-star hotel, whose restaurant and some rooms overlook the field. The stadium is equipped with its own generator in case of a power outage.

Where is Seville's Olympic stadium located?

Seville's Olympic Stadium is located on the island of La Cartuja, situated in the Guadalquivir River. The venue is located on the northern outskirts of the city and is one of the three largest stadiums in Seville, alongside Estadio Benito Villamarín (owned by Real Betis) and Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán (owned by Sevilla FC).

With a capacity of 57,619 spectators, the stadium is also one of the largest in Spain. It is located near the area where the Sevilla Universal Exhibition was held in 1992 (now the Cartuja Science and Technology Park). The stadium is well connected, with access to the SE-20, SE-30 ring roads and Estadio Olímpico railway station.

Who owns La Cartuja?

The stadium is owned by several entities. It is managed by the company Sociedad Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla S.A., in which the largest shareholder is the Junta de Andalucía (40%), the governing body of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia. The other shareholders are: Government of Spain (25%), Sevilla City Council (19%), Diputación de Sevilla, a public institution of the province of Seville (13%), and Real Betis and Sevilla FC, which have a combined 3% stake.

What sporting events have been hosted at La Cartuja?

In 1999, the stadium hosted the 7th World Athletics Championships and the Spanish Championships. In 2004 and 2011, the stadium hosted the team Davis Cup. Most events, however, are related to football. The 2003 UEFA Cup final (FC Porto - Celtic Glasgow 3:2) and the 1999, 2001 and 2020-2025 King's Cup finals were played here.

During EURO 2020, the stadium hosted the group stage matches of the Spanish national team. It has also hosted friendly matches of the Spanish national team, World Cup qualifying matches and Nations League matches. It is interesting to note that the stadium has also played host to two unofficial friendly matches for the Andalusian national team, against Tunisia (2001) and against a team made up of players from Israel and Palestine, as part of the so-called Match for Peace (2006). In 2022, the stadium hosted the King's Cup Rugby final.

What non-sporting events have been hosted at La Cartuja?

The stadium regularly hosts concerts by international stars. Artists who have performed at La Cartuja include Madonna, U2, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen and many others. In 2009, Depeche Mode cancelled their concert, but the stadium set an attendance record for a concert by a Spanish artist, with 45,000 spectators watching Manuel Carrasco perform, and in 2023 the artist's concert attracted 74,345 people, a record for attendance at a Spanish concert.

Also performing at the stadium were: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rosalía, Aitana, Nicky Jam, Maluma and J Balvin. The venue also hosts various music festivals.

What will La Cartuja look like after the modernisation?

La Cartuja modernisation project involves some changes to the stadium's exterior, but the most important modification will be the removal of the athletics track, lowering the level of the pitch and bringing the stands closer to the playing field. The capacity of the stadium will also be increased to 70,000 seats, and including the boxes and press boxes, the total number of seats will rise to 75,000.

Plans also include the expansion of the infrastructure around the stadium, including the construction of new access roads and a car park with more than 12 000 seats, which will be equipped with 25 megawatts of photovoltaic panels. Public transport and cycling infrastructure will also be expanded.

Who will play at Seville's Olympic stadium after the upgrade?

Due to planned redevelopment of Estadio Benito Villamarín (Real Betis) and Nuevo Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán project (Sevilla FC), both clubs will temporarily move to La Cartuja after its upgrade. Real Betis will play their matches at the stadium from the 2025/26 season until 2027, while Sevilla FC will use La Cartuja from 2026-2028. There will also be no shortage of matches for the Spanish national team.