46 | SPORTS VENUES 2023/24 www.stadiaworld.com CONSTRUCTION One trend is clearly evident: It is obvious that in many places mainly modernisation measures and optimisation works are being carried out; only in a few cases are new structures actually being built. One reason for this is certainly that the next major football events, the World Cup 2026 (in the USA) and the EURO 2024 (in Germany), will take place in traditionally well-positioned football and stadium markets. In the USA, the NFL stadiums serve as the main venues. In some cases, capacities will be increased somewhat, but the majority of the requirements can be met by the existing infrastructure. The situation is similar in Germany, where mainly VfB Stuttgart carries out a major construction project; no other venue expects costs of more than 30 million euros for necessary construction measures. This is in stark contrast to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which, with costs of around 220 billion euros, continues to sit at the top of the list of the most expensive World Cups ever and where, even 12 months after the final match, nothing has changed in regard to the situation of the many stadiums described as “deconstructable and reusable”. The 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris will also rely mainly on existing infrastructure and temporary construction solutions. 28 of the 37 venues already exist, and Paris is planning only three new buildings to host the world’s largest multisport event. With the Porte de La Chapelle Arena (adidas arena), which is being built for around 125 million euros and almost 9,000 spectators, Paris is nevertheless providing one of the most exciting arena projects in Europe. In the heart of the French capital, Place de la Concorde, the iconic public square that connects the Tuileries Gardens and the Champs-Elysées, will be transformed into an urban park for the duration of the Olympic Games in 2024. Organisers are hopeful, the temporary venue, which will host breaking, BMX freestyle, skateboarding and 3x3 basketball, will attract up to 37,000 visitors daily. Billion-euro-projects everywhere Of course, all this is not to say that there are no other major projects worth billions of euros. In the USA, the Intuit Dome is about to open in 2024, where the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) have created a new home for themselves worth over 1.5 billion euros and will leave the crypto.com arena they previously shared with the LA Lakers (also NBA) and LA Kings (NHL). The construction projects for the stadiums of the Buffallo Bills and the Tennessee Titans (both NFL), which have already been signed off on, also easily break the billion euro mark. Potential new ballparks for the Oakland A’s (possibly relocating to Las Vegas) and Kansas City Royals may follow suit. In Asia, the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong is scheduled to open in 2024, where an investment of a staggering 3.5 billion euros was due for the construction of a 50,000-seat stadium, a 10,000seat arena, a 5,000-seat stadium for the public as well as public parks and retail space. The last construction element for the retractable roof has already been delivered by ship in July. In Europe, Real Madrid’s new Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is scheduled to open at Christmas 2023, the new Everton Stadium is already working on the construction of the roof and demolition work has also begun on Barca’s Spotify Camp Nou. Australia also has two billion-euro-projects on the horizon with the construction of The Gabba, which will be the country’s new national stadium and is due to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2032 Olympics, and Brisbane Live, a 17,000-seat multi-use arena. For the 2032 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, the Queensland Government already approved a total stadium-infrastructure budget of over 4.3 billion euros. STADIAWORLD also takes a look at the South American bid for the Jubilee World Cup 2030, which would have to start a real building boom in many countries, if they hope to host the biggest single-sport event in the SPORTS VENUES 2023/24: Construction Report The COVID crisis was followed by the war in Ukraine and with it the next bad news for many construction projects: rising prices in all areas and additional challenges in supply chain management. STADIAWORLD’s comprehensive construction report shows developments in stadium projects worldwide and where schedules had to be adjusted. CONSTRUCTION REPORT Page 46 Construction report: Stadium and arena projects in Europe Page 50 Construction report: UEFA EURO 2024 Page 54 Billions for buildings Page 58 How NFL Stadiums prepare for the World Cup Page 60 MLS: The stadiums in 2023 Page 62 South America: Building boom due to World Cup bid? Page 66 China as busy as ever, while Saudi Arabia prepares for Asian Cup Page 68 Brisbane prepares for Olympics – “stadium wars” in New Zealand
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