Seven-time UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla Fútbol Club have announced plans to reconstruct their iconic and atmospheric Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
The Sevilla stadium renovation project was announced at a shareholder meeting in early December 2023 and with some controversy.
One major shareholder, Jose Maria del Nido Benavente, made his opposition to the Sevilla stadium renovation plans clear.
Nevertheless, work is now scheduled to begin in 2026 – according to Diario AS – with plenty of planning to be done before then.
What will the new Sevilla stadium capacity be? Which parts of the ground will be kept and which will be demolished? What do Sevilla fans think of the news? Answers to all those questions and much more in our regularly updated, fan-led guide below…
Contents
New Sevilla stadium renovation: The key details
Sevilla have called the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan their home since 1958 and is named after the club's former President, who led the club from 1932 until 1941 and then again from 1948 to 1956. Under Sanchez-Pizjuan's presidency, Sevilla won their only La Liga title.
Thankfully for Sevilla fans, there are no plans to leave the ground. Instead, it will be renovated. But this isn't some minor renovation, it will involve major changes to the structure of the stadium, or, indeed, a brand new structure entirely.
- Only the outer shell and iconic mosaic wall of the current ground will be retained on the outside.
- Inside, the ground will be demolished and reconstructed.
- The previously uncovered stadium will have a rectangular roof with sharp edges.
- The Gol Norte Stand will become a huge single-tier stand with 15,000 seats. There is no stand like this in Spain. It will be similar to that at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park.
- The new stadium will be sustainable with renewable energy. Wit that, Sevilla will make great strides towards having a green stadium, something that is becoming revolutionary in stadium constructions today as more clubs strive to have sustainable renewable energy soucrces.
- A new car park will be added, which means there will lots of parking spaces in the future to accommodate hundreds if not thousands of cars.
- Terraces, restaurant areas and more hospitality areas to be added.
- Capacity will increase from 42,714 to 55,000. While this will not be any closer to Spain's or even Europe's top clubs with huge stadium capacities, it would be a great addition to help accommodate Sevilla's growing fanbase.
- 10% of the capacity will be dedicated to VIP areas. VIP as well as hospitality packages have become a thing in stadium construction today as football clubs expand their VIP capacities to accommodate more guess and offer special packages to meet growing interest in this area.
- Stands to be moved closer to the pitch. This is the case with the New Tottenham Stadium and it means fans will feel closer to the stadium.
- The project is expected to cost around €350m.
- The new stadium could increase the club's revenue by €26m per season.
- Costs are partly funded by La Liga's recent deal with private equity fund CVC Capital Partners, who receive an 8.25% stake in the league's TV rights in return for nearly €2bn.
- Sevilla will need to play elsewhere for at least two years. The most likely temporary home would be the Estadio La Cartuja, where the Spanish national team regularly plays.
How does the Sevilla stadium renovation compare to others?
Many elite European football clubs are now undertaking stadium renovation or construction. Examples include Barcelona and Los Blancos. The race to having the biggest venue, that notwithstanding can host other events such as concerts is not something new. There are some similarities with other stadium renovations in Spain. FC Barcelona, for example, are also undergoing a major reconstruction and is also adding a roof to their previously uncovered ground. They and Real Madrid have both focused on improving their hospitality facilities and the sustainability of their grounds.
Sevilla's rivals Real Betis are also undergoing stadium renovations. As Spain prepares to host the 2030 World Cup, clubs are vying to have their grounds selected as one of the host stadiums.
Sevilla's plans are different to all of the above, though, as they effectively involve building a brand new stadium, just while maintaining some key aspects of the current ground. This isn't something we often see.
How much will Sevilla stadium renovation cost?
It's expected the cost will be at least €350m. This is causing some concern at Sevilla, who have made a loss over the last three seasons. Shareholders are in disagreement about the new stadium project.
Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium timeline
- 1937: Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán purchases the land in Nervión.
- 1956: His successor, Ramón de Carranza, lays the first stone of the new stadium after Sánchez-Pizjuán's death. The ground was designed by Manuel Muñoz Monasterio, who also created the plans for the Santiago Bernabeu.
- 1958: The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium is inaugurated on 7 September with a friendly match between Sevilla and Jaén, which ended 3-3.
- 1974: The construction of the stadium is fully completed with a maximum capacity of 77,000.
- 1982: The stadium's capacity is reduced to 68,110 with renovations for the 1982 World Cup. It hosts Brazil 2-1 Soviet Union in the group stage and West Germany 3-3 France (5-4, pens) in the semi-finals. The stadium's iconic mosaic was constructed this year.
- 1986: The ground hosts the European Cup final, won on penalties by Steau Bucharest after a goalless draw with FC Barcelona.
- 1990s: Further renovations transform the ground into an all-seater arena, and the capacity drops to 42,714.
- 2005: A further mosaic is erected to mark the club's centenary year.
- 2022: Hosts the Europa League Final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, which the German side won on penalties.
- 2023: Plans to build a new Sevilla stadium within the existing structure announced.
New Sevilla stadium renovation FAQs
What is the current Sevilla stadium capacity?
The current capacity of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is 42,714. The stadium was opened on 7 September 1958, three years after it was built.
What will the new Sevilla stadium capacity be?
The new capacity of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium after renovation will be 55,000.
Will the new Sevill stadium use green energy?
Yes, with green stadiums becoming popular in Europe and the world over, Sevilla's new stadium is expected to ulitize green energy sources such as solar to power its activities.
Who is the funding the renovation of Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium ?
Sevilla entered into a contract wit CVC Capital Partners, a private equity fund, to aid the renovation of the stadium through funding. Do not forget that CVC Capital Funds has a deal with La Liga whereby they receive at least 8.25% in TV rights revenue. Out out of that, they pump back at least €2bn to the Spanish topflight.
Who is the current head coach for Sevilla?
Spanish tactician Quique Sanchez Flores is the current manager for Sevilla. He joined the Spanish toflight side in December 2023 and has done quite well at the helm so far. However, he faced lots of pressure with the record Europa League winners currently out of top 10.
Who are the current Europa League title holders?
Sevilla are the record holders of the Europa League, which is their seventh title. They are also the record winners of the prestigious European silverware.
Video of new Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan
Want to see a video of the Sevilla stadium renovation? We have pulled out the best one for you below.