Plans for a New Stadium in Marbella
The fences surrounding the old Marbella stadium have been a topic of discussion for nearly four years since the unveiling of the “mini Bernabéu” project in Puerto Banús in July 2020. Now, Marbella’s Mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, has announced another similar initiative. The new proposal involves a stadium with a capacity of 10,000 spectators, costing around 130 million euros, and will be entirely privately funded.
Previous Failed Projects
The idea of Marbella having a new football stadium, like any other municipality, seems like a pipe dream. For the past four years, numerous projects have been proposed but none have come to fruition. In July 2020, the company Best of You (BOY), which manages Marbella FC, presented a proposal for a large stadium. The news made headlines across Spain, but the project ultimately fell through.
New Project Announcement
Despite previous setbacks, another new project was announced this morning, nearly four years later, following the results of an ideas competition in July 2022. The same company, BOY, will be responsible for carrying out the project. The press conference, which left many questions unanswered, was led by Ángeles Muñoz and Esteban Granero, a representative of the club and BOY.
Details of the New Stadium
The new stadium, to be built on the same site as the old Municipal Lorenzo Cuevas, will cost between 115 and 130 million euros. It will have a capacity of 10,000 spectators and a parking lot with 1,000 spaces. These figures are surprising as they differ significantly from the conditions of the previous ideas competition, which proposed a maximum budget of 18 million euros, 8,000 seats in the stands, and a covered athletics track, which has now been discarded.
Additional Features and Funding
In addition to the stadium, the project also includes a hotel and a commercial area next to the sports facility. The mayor plans to grant the project to the Marbella FC Foundation without competition. The Foundation has requested a 75-year concession, the maximum legal limit, and will be responsible for building the stadium. It is surprising that a non-profit organization can find 130 million euros to build a stadium and then exploit the private areas.
Construction Timeline
The timeline given for this project is that demolition and construction will begin simultaneously after the summer, with Marbella FC overseeing the process. The club aims to be playing in the stadium by 2026, even if the construction is not completed by then. No images of the project or the new facility were shown during the press conference.
Private Initiative for Public Interest
Despite being a private initiative, Esteban Granero stated that it will be “a stadium for everyone” and that the presence of the Foundation “guarantees the general interest of the project”. He also highlighted the importance of this initiative, which he believes can reach a “national” dimension and will be approached “with investors and also through bank financing”.
Previous Steps and Future Plans
On March 14, Marbella FC presented a justification report, initiating the procedures to request this concession for general interest. These steps were also taken with the “mini Bernabéu” project, which never came to fruition. The press conference also mentioned the possibility of being a sub-venue for the 2030 World Cup and hosting international matches, as well as other types of events.
Project’s Impact
Mayor Ángeles Muñoz stated that the “figure of Esteban Granero attests to the project’s solvency”. The project is expected to create between 1,600 and 2,300 new jobs (800 direct, 700 indirect, and 400 induced) and the impact on the GDP is estimated to be between 36 and 50 million euros, representing 0.2% of the entire province of Málaga.
