Gran Canaria stadium revamp relaunched with £200m budget and new terms amid 2030 World Cup bid

Plans to redevelop the Estadio Gran Canaria have been relaunched after the original construction tender failed to attract a single bid.

The revised project comes with a significantly larger budget and updated terms as officials look to ensure the stadium is ready for the 2030 World Cup.

Estadio Gran Canaria redevelopment tender relaunched

The Gran Canaria Island Council has launched a new tender for the redevelopment of the Estadio Gran Canaria, increasing the maximum budget from €174.7 million to €234.8 million (£200 million).

The original tender closed on July 7th without attracting any bids, with construction companies reportedly deterred by the rising cost of materials and specialist labour alongside the terms of the contract.

The new tender keeps the 36-month construction period, with work scheduled between 2027 and 2029. Companies have until September 11th to submit bids, with the proposals due to be opened three days later.

The redevelopment will be jointly funded by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands Government, Las Palmas City Council and UD Las Palmas.

One of the biggest changes will be the addition of a full roof to the currently open-air stadium, with the cost of that element rising from €60.5m (£52 million) to more than €93m (£80 million).

Known as ‘La Nube' or ‘The Cloud', the L35 Arquitectos design will increase capacity from 32,418 to 44,022.

The North and South stands will also be brought closer to the pitch, while entrances, interior spaces and the surrounding area will be upgraded.

FGG says: Gran Canaria needed to get this project back on track

The failed first tender was a major concern with the 2030 World Cup approaching, so increasing the budget to reflect the realities of modern construction costs makes sense if it gives the project a better chance of attracting a contractor.

There is still a long way to go, but getting construction underway in 2027 would give Gran Canaria a realistic route towards delivering a 44,000-capacity stadium by 2029.

If the island wants to be part of the 2030 World Cup, there is little room for further delays.