A previously abandoned stadium will finally be built in time for the 2026/27 season.
Valencia's new stadium will finally be completed in time for next season
Valencia's new stadium will finally be completed in time for next season (Image: Getty)
An abandoned stadium in Spain is preparing to host matches involving the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid next season. The arena will become the new home ground of Valencia in the 2027/28 campaign, two decades after construction began. Shortly after the turn of the millennium, it was decided that Valencia needed a new stadium to replace the iconic Mestalla.
The project began in 2007, when the initial building work got underway. Much of the stadium's skeleton was constructed over the next two years before the plans were put on hold because of financial difficulties affecting Valencia. The club were facing debts in excess of £350million, meaning they couldn't afford to complete the project before the scheduled move-in date in the summer of 2009.
For the next 16 years, the stadium remained abandoned with no sign of construction resuming. However, a deal has now been struck to complete the build, with Valencia hoping to start playing there from next season onwards.
Spanish firm FCC Construccion have agreed to finish building the arena, which is expected to hold just over 70,000 fans. This will make it the fourth-largest stadium in Spain, behind only the Nou Camp, the Santiago Bernabeu and the Metropolitano Stadium.
A statement from Valencia read: "The Nou Mestalla is the most significant non-sporting project in Valencia CF's over century-long history.
"With a seating capacity of 70,044, it will be a state-of-the-art stadium capable of hosting top-tier FIFA and UEFA matches, as well as major events.
"The design will incorporate the latest trends invisibility, safety, and comfort, ensuring an enhanced experience for all fans.
The ambitious project was abandoned for 16 years but is now back on
The ambitious project was abandoned for 16 years but is now back on (Image: VALENCIA CF)
"The new stadium will offer a diverse range of experiences that cater to all audiences and will be centrally located in Valencia, significantly impacting the lives of its citizens.
"It will provide year-round entertainment, featuring experiential restaurants, leisure activities, a megastore, a museum, and an auditorium. The stadium aims to be an innovative hub for fans on both matchdays and non-matchdays."
Despite construction resuming, the new stadium hasn't been included as a host venue for the next World Cup, which will be held across Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
It will only host La Liga matches next season if Valencia manage to secure their top-flight status, having made a poor start to the new campaign.
They have only claimed one victory in their opening seven games, leaving them second-bottom of the division ahead of newly-promoted Malaga.