- May 10, 2023
- Posted by: SportsV
- Categories: Featured Articles, Features, Home News, Industry News, News, Press Releases, Tenders
The ‘Project New Stadium’, one of main points of the Real Betis Strategic Plan 2022/26, continues to take shape, with the seven entities that Real Betis has shortlisted to participate in the final phase of the design competition, having been on site at Benito Villamarín to learn about the prerequisites of the project.
On March 7, 2023, Real Betis launched an international competition to: design and build the new West Stand at Benito Villamarín; redevelopment works on the North, East and South Stands; design of the roof; as well as interventions on the stadium’s surroundings.
Real Betis received the required documents from 30 national and international candidates. Of them, seven have been chosen to continue to the final process, which will see them submitting their proposals before June 15.
The seven candidates are as follow (listed in alphabetical order):
- AFL Architects (UK) + Ayesa (ESP)
- Fenwick Iribarren Architects (ESP) + MC2 (ESP) + sbp (GER)
- IDOM (ESP) + SV60 (ESP)
- L35 Architects (ESP) + KSS (UK) + Grupo Argenia (ESP) + INES INGENIERÍA (ESP)
- Lamela (ESP) + EDDEA (ESP) + Buro Happold (UK)
- Populous (US) + HCP Architecture & Engineering (ESP) + IDEAM S.A. (ESP)
- RAFAEL DE LA-HOZ Arquitectos (ESP) + Gensler (US)
The Club recently hosted representatives of the above firms at Benito Villamarín Stadium, during which the studios received first hand information about the prerequisites that the new Stadium must meet and the main characteristics.
ALSD International 2023 is being hosted at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, October 9-10. Optimising revenue through New Builds, Renovations & Service Expansions is the key focus of this industry-leading event, with architecture & design, fan experience, hospitality, premium seating, sustainability and technology taking centre stage.
Javier Doña, Director of the Project New Stadium, explained the conceptual model of the new venue, which, as he explained, must be finished by June 2026:
The Stadium is the heart of 21st Century football clubs, both at sentimental and at financial level. Stadiums have a soul and it needs to be respected, but adapting it to what the Club wants. We want to transform the Stadium into a business model that goes beyond match days. This is not just your stadium, it is your home. And it has an impact on all the business lines, on our audience, on our commercial value. We want a top Stadium, comfortable, welcoming for Betis fans, and open 365 days a year. The design needs to project Betis brand, make it an icon in the city, a place that needs to be visited, and an entertainment centre.
Doña continued:
We are an open club and we have to show it on the Stadium. We want to invite the fans to take part in our party. We want to communicate this message with the design. It has to be welcoming, full of light, where the fans can move easily. We need more comfort, more services, more leisure and entertainment options, adapting to the future, and flexible for later modifications. History, essence, future.
Doña also talked about the advantages that the current Benito Villamarín boasts, from its urban location and 60,000-capacity, which, as he stated, makes it a suitable candidate to host a UEFA Champions League final:
We are in a group of only 17 stadiums in the five big leagues in Europa that can host 60,000 spectators or more, and only 11 of them are inside the city. We want to build a future for the Club and the Stadium is one of the cornerstones of the Strategic Plan 2022/26.
During the presentation, technical details and urban requirements of the project were explained, as well as other aspects such as inclusivity and sustainability. Once the window for the reception of the final proposals and designs, the Club will notify, in July, the candidate that will execute the Project New Stadium.
Source & imagery, courtesy: Real Betis
Sports Venue Business organises and delivers ALSD International – the leading event and 365 community for the Premium Seat & Hospitality sector – on behalf of the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD).
