Europa Point Stadium – stadium description

How can Europa Point Stadium be briefly described?

Picturesquely located at the southern tip of Gibraltar, the stadium stands out for the unusual shape of its playing field, adapted for both rugby/football and cricket matches.

The stands are located on the western and southern sides, behind which lies a facility building containing a sports hall, six squash courts, and a darts club. The whole complex forms a multifunctional sports venue known as Europa Sports Park.

The venue was built at the initiative of the Government of Gibraltar, with the 2019 Island Games as the main impetus for its construction. Although originally designed primarily for rugby and cricket, during the redevelopment of Victoria Stadium it also gained importance as a football venue.

How was Europa Point Stadium built?

What previously occupied the site of Europa Point Stadium?

In earlier years, Europa Point – the southernmost tip of Gibraltar – was home to a cricket field owned by the Ministry of Defence. The facility lacked developed infrastructure, and its surface was not even covered with grass.

Could a modern football stadium have been built at Europa Point?

When Gibraltar became a member of UEFA in 2013, plans emerged to build a modern football stadium at this site, meeting international standards and allowing the national team to host matches there, while local clubs could play their European competition fixtures.

Although a design was prepared for a new stadium with a capacity of over 8,000 spectators, the Gibraltar Football Association ultimately decided to construct the new venue on the site of Victoria Stadium instead.

How did the idea of Europa Point Stadium come about?

The Government of Gibraltar took interest in the Europa Point site and decided to build a new sports facility there, intended mainly for rugby but also suitable for cricket and football.

In addition to the playing field, plans included a building with a sports hall and a range of other facilities, turning the area into a multi-purpose sports complex.

The construction of the Europa Point sports complex was one of two major sports infrastructure investments planned by the Government of Gibraltar at the time, alongside new facilities at Lathbury Barracks, which were to include an athletics stadium and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

The main driving force behind these projects was the 2019 Island Games, awarded to Gibraltar in 2016. The design of the new complex at Europa Point was prepared by AKS Gibraltar.

When was Europa Point Stadium built?

The new Europa Point Stadium was constructed between 2018 and 2019, with the first event held at the stadium being the opening ceremony of the 2019 Island Games on 6 July 2019. The venue also hosted the closing ceremony of the games, while badminton and squash competitions took place in the accompanying indoor facilities.

In its early years, the stadium did not operate at full capacity, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sports hall was temporarily converted into a hospital. A symbolic opening ceremony of the entire complex was only held on 8 September 2023.

Initially, the stadium had only one stand, located on the western side. On 3 September 2025, a new stand on the southern side was opened, increasing the venue’s capacity by over a thousand seats.

What is Europa Point Stadium like?

The stadium was designed to accommodate rugby, football, and cricket matches, featuring a large, grassy playing field with a variable shape – rectangular on the western side and oval on the eastern side.

Apart from cricket matches, the eastern part of the field is mostly unused or serves as a training area, where temporary additional stands can also be installed. Floodlight masts are positioned around the playing field.

The main stand, with 800 seats, is located on the western side. Since 2025, the stadium also has a second stand on the southern side, seating over a thousand spectators, bringing the total capacity to approximately 2,100.

On the west and south sides, the field is surrounded not only by stands but also by a facility building with extensive amenities. The southern part is particularly developed, as it houses the sports hall. The entire area forms a multi-purpose complex known as Europa Sports Park.

In addition to the sports hall, the complex also contains six squash courts, a darts club, a gym, a rehabilitation center, locker rooms, offices, a restaurant, and a lecture hall.

Where is Europa Point Stadium located?

The stadium is picturesquely situated at Europa Point, the southernmost tip of Gibraltar. From the stands, spectators can see notable nearby landmarks such as the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque and the Europa Point Lighthouse, while in the distance, the famous Rock of Gibraltar is visible.

What events take place at Europa Point Stadium?

Rugby

The stadium was built largely with rugby in mind. The Gibraltar Rugby Football Union is based at Europa Sports Park, and the stadium hosts various rugby tournaments and matches, including games played by the Gibraltar national team.

Football

Although the venue was mostly designed for rugby, its significance as a football venue has grown over time. In 2024, the stadium underwent modernization works, and UEFA granted approval for its use in international matches.

On 4 September 2024, the Gibraltar national football team played their first match at Europa Point Stadium, defeating Andorra 1–0 in a friendly. Later, competitive matches were held, and Gibraltarian clubs began using the stadium for European competitions.

With the demolition of Victoria Stadium underway in 2025, Europa Point Stadium also began hosting domestic league matches in Gibraltar.

UEFA’s approval for using Europa Point Stadium is temporary, valid until a new stadium is built to replace Victoria Stadium.

Cricket

The stadium hosts numerous cricket matches organized by Gibraltar Cricket, including games played by the Gibraltar national team, Midweek League matches, and the annual European Cricket Series Gibraltar T10 tournament.

Other events

Europa Point Stadium and the entire Europa Sports Park complex also host a variety of other events. These have included the opening and closing ceremonies and competitions of the 2019 Island Games, as well as a heavyweight fight for the WBC interim world title – the rematch between Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte, held on 27 March 2021, which ended with Whyte winning by knockout in the fourth round.