Featured image credit: Real Betis
Spanish LaLiga football club Real Betis has announced that seven proposals have made it to the final stage of a process to design a redeveloped Estadio Benito Villamarín.
The Seville-based club received 30 applications from architecture firms around the world. The seven proposals that have been selected will have until June 15 to submit their final plans for the reimagined stadium.
The final shortlist includes proposals from:
- AFL Architects and Ayesa
- Fenwick & Iribarren, MC2 and SBP
- IDOM and SV60
- L35, KSS, Argenia and Ines Ingeniería
- Lamela, Eddea and Buro Happold
- Populous, HCP and IDEAM
- Rafael de la Hoz and Gensler
Betis announced in March that it would be inviting proposals from architecture companies to design a redeveloped Estadio Benito Villamarín, with the club hoping to begin work on the project in June 2024. The project is expected to be completed by June 2026.
The project will focus on a new Preferencia stand and will include improvements to the Gol Norte, Fondo and Gol Sur stands. A roof for the four stands will also be installed.
The stadium has a current capacity of 60,000 and the club expects the redevelopment to cost approximately €70m (£61m/$76m). It is hoped the project will transform the stadium into a year-round venue.
Javier Doña, director of the new stadium project, said: “The stadium is the heart of the clubs in the 21st century, both sentimentally and financially. Stadiums have a soul and must be respected, but adapting it to what the club wants.
“We want to turn the stadium into a business model that goes beyond matches. This is not just your stadium, it’s your home. And it also has an impact on all lines of business, on our audiences and on our commercial value. We want a quality, comfortable, welcoming stadium for Beticismo and with activity 365 days a year. That is something non-negotiable.”
Doña noted that the Villamarín is one of 17 stadiums across Europe’s five major leagues with a capacity of 60,000 or more. He said the redevelopment project could put the stadium in contention to host a future edition of the UEFA Champions League final.
Once the period for submitting designs closes, Betis will announce the winning proposal in July.
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