Estadi Mallorca Son Moix – stadium description

Why was a new stadium built in Palma de Mallorca?

After Palma de Mallorca was awarded the 1999 Summer Universiade, the municipality decided to build a new, multi-purpose venue to be the main arena of the competition. The new stadium was built about 3 km north-west of the city centre, within an existing sports complex which also includes pitches, tennis courts, cycling track and an indoor arena linked to a swimming pool. The opening ceremony of the Universiade, which took place on 3rd July 1999, was also the inauguration of the stadium.

Who became the host of the new stadium in Palma de Mallorca?

At the turn of the century, RCD Mallorca enjoyed its best ever season (including reaching the final of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1998/99). While still under construction, the club signed a lease for a new stadium and moved from the aging Estadio Lluís Sitjar in the summer of 1999.

The team's first home game in the new arena was on 21st August 1999, when they were beaten 1-2 by Real Madrid in a league encounter. The creation of a new, large stadium in the city was to the club's benefit, although the existence of an athletics track and the resulting distance between the stands and the pitch was seen as a drawback from the start.

What were the names of the RCD Mallorca stadium?

The arena was originally known as Estadi de Son Moix. From 2004 to 2010, due to a sponsorship deal, the venue was called ONO Estadi and from 2010 to 2017 Iberostar Estadi. It reached another deal in 2020, when it was renamed Visit Mallorca Estadi (the name was in effect until 2022). The current name is Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.

What did the stadium in Palma de Mallorca originally look like?

The facility in its original layout was a multi-purpose stadium, with an athletics track. The running track was surrounded by a ring of stands, and along the pitch the auditorium was much higher. The west stand was fitted with a canopy that covered the upper rows. The capacity of the venue was 23,142 spectators.

How Estadi Mallorca Son Moix compares to other LaLiga stadiums?

What changes have been made to the stadium in Palma de Mallorca?

During the 2012/13 season, additional temporary rows of stands were added to the west stand, bringing the audience closer to the pitch. In late 2015, meanwhile, a temporary stand was opened behind the north goal, located along the end line of the pitch and interfering with the athletics track.

The temporary metal structure, called Grada Lluís Sitjar, existed until the major redevelopment of 2022–2024. At the start of the redevelopment, it was moved to the south side, where it was still in use throughout the 2022/23 season, before being removed.

When did the biggest redevelopment of the stadium in Palma de Mallorca take place?

As the venue did not host many athletics events and the main user was the football team, a possible redevelopment of the Estadi de Son Moix to remove the running track and turn it into a football-specific venue had been discussed for some time. Work finally started in May 2022, with the redevelopment being carried out in stages and completed in early 2024.

For coverage of the redevelopment of the stadium in Palma de Mallorca, see the separate subpage

What did the 2022–2024 redevelopment of the stadium in Palma de Mallorca include?

As part of the redevelopment, the running track was removed and the lower level of the stands was reconstructed, taking on a rectangular shape and bringing it much closer to the pitch. A roof was erected over the east stand, similar to the one on the opposite side, and a VIP pavilion was built over the stand behind the north goal. The capacity of the stadium after modernisation increased by approximately 3,000 seats to 26,020 spectators.

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