Relocation as a means of modernisation is a strategy currently favoured by a number of Spanish clubs, but it’s not all been plain sailing. Espanyol started the trend by moving from the unpopular Montjuic ground to much more up market surroundings at their sparkling new Cornella-El Prat home.
Relocation as a means of modernisation is a strategy currently favoured by a number of Spanish clubs, but it’s not all been plain sailing. Espanyol started the trend by moving from the unpopular Montjuic ground to much more up market surroundings at their sparkling new Cornella-El Prat home.
Getafe, Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid have all announced plans to move. Getafe’s current ground is owned by the local council, a not unfamiliar situation in continental Europe. Some have questioned whether a club that struggles to attract crowds of 12,000 needs to build a stadium that could hold twice that number.
Atletico Madrid are hoping to move from the crumbling Vicente Calderon to a site that is currently a weed-infested athletics track near the city’s airport which is some way from downtown although linked by metro. Unfortunately, it is also the focal point of Madrid’s ongoing Olympic bids, but nevertheless the club hopes to be playing there in three years.
However, the state of Spain’s recession hit economy is putting some plans on hold. Work on Valencia’s ‘New Mestella’ stadium has been halted for over a year because the club has been unable to sell their current home to developers to pay for substantial construction costs.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are looking to give their iconic stadiums substantial facelifts. Barca;s €250m Camp Nou makeover has faced delays because of protests from local residents. Real Madrid has announced plans to improve the Bernebau which may or may not include a retractable roof.