Celta Vigo’s Balaidos Stadium will have its capacity increased to more than 40,000 ahead of the 2030 World Cup, with the club also renaming the Tribuna stand after former Liverpool striker.
The Tribuna will be reconstructed, with its capacity increasing from 5,500 to 16,000 seats. The stand will also be moved backwards to accommodate the additional seating.
Balaidos is one of 20 stadiums selected to host matches during the 2030 World Cup, which will be staged across Spain, Morocco and Portugal, with centenary matches taking place in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The stadium previously hosted matches during the 1982 World Cup, the last time Spain hosted the tournament.
Club legend Iago Aspas will also be honoured with a statue outside the stadium. The 39-year-old is Celta’s all-time leading scorer and appearance maker, having scored 223 goals in 578 appearances for the club.
Aspas scored once in 15 appearances for Liverpool between 2013 and 2015 and signed a new one-year contract with Celta in May.
The club’s home since 1928 is currently undergoing redevelopment, with its capacity set to increase from 24,870 to more than 40,000. Work on the Gol stand is also ongoing, with 7,000 new seats set to be added when it fully reopens in January.
However, Aspas’ name will instead adorn the Tribuna, which has been renamed the Iago Aspas Tribuna. Vigo mayor Abel Caballero confirmed the decision in a video announcement following speculation from supporters.
Caballero explained: “Why the Tribuna stand? First, because it is already operational and, therefore, the name is immediate.
“Second, because it will be the stand with the largest capacity in Balaídos. And third, very importantly, because next to the Tribuna stand will be the sculpture that the City Council is going to install for Iago Aspas, right there in front.”
He added: “Therefore, everything fits. So the Tribuna stand will immediately be called the Iago Aspas Tribuna stand, because it is already operational.”
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