‘My life has been ruined by 80k seat ghost stadium – that could all change if they finish it'

Wales Online

4 days ago

'My life has been ruined by 80k seat ghost stadium – that could all change if they finish it'
Valencia's Nou Mestalla has been left abandoned for over a decade, with the unfinished stadium having a major impact on the local community in Benicalap, Valencia
Valencia's abandoned stadium looks to have a future
(Image: Aaron Flanagan/Reach plc )
Next to the unfinished skeleton of an 80,000-capacity World Cup stadium, the residents of Benicalap have been left to wonder if the future will brighten in the shadow of its walls.
The Nou Mestalla, lying dormant and derelict for years, symbolised promise and regeneration for this community as a project that began back in 2007.
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The stadium aimed to herald a new era for Valencia CF, following their La Liga triumphs in 2002 and 2004, which disrupted the Real Madrid-Barcelona domination. Yet, financial woes led to a stalled project, leaving an eyesore that overshadowed the area for over a decade.
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Now, with a hefty sum of £275million secured, Valencia can finally advance with construction, eyeing completion by 2027. This move restores hope within the local population that the problem area tarnishing their landscape might transform into prosperity.
The site has been derelict for over 10 years
(Image: Aaron Flanagan/Reach plc )
This turn of events rekindles the ambitions long-held by Benicalap residents, as the bleak giant marring their skyline may yet become a beacon of progress, as reported by the Daily Star.
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In November 2023, a hotel receptionist in the vicinity said: "Everyone asks about it because it is so big and it is so ugly for the views," whilst another local shared a universal sentiment: "Whatever it is, it is better to have it finished. A building for business, a building for sport, a building for partying, whatever. But it needs to be done... not that."
The grand Nou Mestalla stadium, with its ambitious plans to host 80,000 fans on a site that was once an industrial hub, promised a tourism boom for the residents of Benicalap.
Reflecting on unfulfilled aspirations, a local café owner said: "My mother bought this cafe 15 years ago. She bought it for exactly that point, for the stadium. But we are waiting for them to start again, to have a great business. We are waiting. I hope they will start again.
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The stadium's long delay has been a source of anguish for the local community
(Image: Aaron Flanagan/Reach plc )
"This neighbourhood is not so rich. We try hard to pay our bills. We are a working family and we are working hard, but it is not easy."
However, the incomplete edifice wasn't merely a metaphor for missed chances; for some, it represented the excitement of being part of football's legacy. A restaurant owner said: "When someone from outside comes, they always ask about it I am also a fan of football and I love to see something like that.
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"I know the story of this but I do not feel like it is unfinished. Fans of football, if they see the stadium, they are feeling something and I feel the same. It is my dream to be near the stadium, near all the players of Valencia and the World Cup and more."
Like others in the area, he looks forward to the potential benefits for the community should the project reach completion. "If they make it, everything will be great," he added.
Valencia planned on entering a new era when construction began on Nou Mestalla in 2007, with a planned capacity of up to 80,000 for the stadium
(Image: Aaron Flanagan/Reach plc )
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"Money will come to the people and the businesses here. Fans of football will always be here, hopefully with the Champions League and World Cup, everyone will be here. It will be such a beautiful opportunity for the people here. I wish, I hope that they will do it."
One local resident and avid football supporter expressed concerns about the structural safety if the project continues and mooted the possibility of needing a complete teardown.
He said: "Engineering wise, it cannot be safe, so if they want to build, they will have to knock down the whole thing. It will take time and money. But when you remember the World Cup in Qatar, they did not have the stadiums but in six months, they build stadiums. They can do the same and that is what I wish for."
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It seems the residents' dreams are set to become reality, as the Nou Mestalla is poised to be among an array of iconic venues hosting the 2030 World Cup, with plans for the games to take place across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
A view of how the Nou Mestalla could look if it is completed
(Image: Valencia CF )
The official Valencia website reads: "Valencia CF has successfully secured the full financing for Nou Mestalla - the most significant non-sporting project in the Club's history.
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"Scheduled to open in 2027, Nou Mestalla will serve as a global benchmark for modern stadium developments. The modern state-of-the-art stadium will drive Valencia CF's growth and unlock new long-term sustainable revenue streams that will strengthen the Club's influence and competitiveness for decades to come.
"Nou Mestalla is not just a transformative investment for Valencia CF - it will be a landmark and legacy project for the city and is set to become an iconic symbol for Valencia CF fans, benefiting the city of Valencia, its residents, and visitors."