New Football Stadiums: 20 of the Most Exciting Development Projects for the Future

Last updated: 19/04/2020

With the world of football sent to the shops for a long wait by the COVID-19 pandemic, fans have two options, look back or look forward... you can also do Jamie Carragher's infuriatingly tricky challenge.

Assuming you are the forward-looking type and you like architecture porn, here are 20 of the best upcoming projects to wrap your retinas around. Enjoy

AC Milan & Inter (New San Siro)

Reports last year surfaced revealing that both AC Milan and Inter are on board to a build a stadium after almost 100 years at San Siro.

In September, Milan and Inter revealed dual concept designs for the €600m 'new San Siro', which could be ready for 2022/23 - though whether that is delayed because of the pandemic is unknown.

The old stadium is expected to remain standing and in use until after the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan.

Atalanta (Gewiss Stadium)

Atalanta began renovation work on their creaking stadium last year (the club played Champions League fixtures at San Siro in 2019/20) after the club bought the ground from the local council for €11.2m. 

The project was expected to be completed in time for the start of next season, with the second phase of renovations due to start on 25 May. However, that is now in doubt.

Barcelona's ambitious 'Espai Barça' redevelopment project will see Camp Nou's capacity increase to 105,000 (which will make the venue the second biggest football stadium in the world), the addition of a roof, as well as the incorporation of 5G mobile technology (the first stadium in the world to do so).

The remodelling - which was scheduled to occur between 2020 and 2024 - will (supposedly) be done without Barcelona having to find a new home, and will incur an estimated cost of €360m.

See a full article on Camp Nou's redevelopment here.

Bologna (Stadio Renato Dall'Ara)

In January last year, Serie A outfit Bologna announced plans to completely redevelop the Dall’Ara, which first opened in 1927. 

The work will involve reducing the stadium's capacity to 27,000 (from 31,000), with room for expansion to 29,000, as well as the installation of a new roof and stands closer to the pitch. 

The project is expected to take five years to complete. 

Celta Vigo (Abanca Balaídos)

O Celtiña have been in their home ground since 1982, and has undergone several redevelopments over the years - including in 2002/03 when the club qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Since 2015 Balaídos has been undergoing major renovations, which will become a fully covered stadium with capacity for 31,000 spectators (current capacity is 29,000).

Crystal Palace (Selhurst Park)

The Eagles have already been granted the green light (in principle) to expand Selhurst Park's capacity from 26,000 to over 34,000. 

However, the club are still in talks with Croydon Council and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, with approval from both needed before final planning permission is issued.

If that all goes to plan, then Palace will start work on the main stand this summer to have it ready by the beginning of the 2020/21 season. 

Empoli (Stadio Carlo Castellani)

The fantastically named Stadio Carlo Castellani has been home to Empoli since 1965, but in 2018 the Serie A outfit announced that it would be launching a complete overhaul of the ground in a project financed through a public-private partnership - the first of its kind in Italy. 

The new ground - well, almost new (three of the four stands will be rebuilt) - will accommodate 20,000 fans, and Empoli have stated that the ground will be, "be sustainable from a social, economic and environmental perspective thanks to a configuration that will make it a zero emissions facility." 

Everton (Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium)

After plans for Everton's new 52,000-seater stadium were 'leaked' last year, the club released the official stunning designs for the venue on the banks of the river Mersey. 

The plans suggest that should work start in 2020, the Toffees could move into their new stadium in 2023 - finally saying goodbye to Goodison Park, their home ground since 1892. 

Feyenoord (Feyenoord Stadium)

Stadiums next to a body of water just look better, don't they? 

If Everton's wasn't enough for you, take a gander at the renderings of Feyenoord's new home in Rotterdam below. 

Feyenoord's ground - which will replace the historic but ageing Stadium de Kuip - will sit on the banks of the river Maas, and with a capacity of 63,000, will be the largest football ground in the Netherlands when it opens in 2023. 

Fiorentina (Nuovo Stadio Fiorentina)

Fiorentina currently play their football at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, though the club have been looking to leave the ancient ground (opened in 1931) since 2008. 

Though construction has not yet begun on the ground - thanks to a corruption scandal and difficulties in securing a new site for the stadium - Florence's mayor has said that the arena could be ready for use by 2023.

The stadium would be built on the Mercafir site in Florence and would cost around €420m. And holy heck, if the video is anything to go by, it's going to look absolutely stunning. 

Guangzhou Evergrande (New Stadium)

This year, Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande put shovel to soil on a new $1.7 billion stadium, with a capacity of 100,000.

If the size and cost weren't enough just check out the design.

Boasting an eye-catching lotus-flower design, in reference to Guangzhou's moniker of the 'Flower City' it is scheduled to be ready by December of 2022. 

If it is, and it actually looks like that, it will be one of the most spectacular looking stadiums in all of sport.

Hungary (Puskas Arena)

The 68,000-seater Puskas Arena in Budapest is due for completion by the end of 2019, in time for Euro 2020 where it will host three group stage matches and a round of 16 fixture.

Built on the site of the ageing Ference Puskas Stadium, the €600m venue will also become the national stadium of Hungary. 

The characteristics of the original ground will be referenced in the new design hugely important, while the tower of the old stadium will be used host a museum dedicated to Puskas - who else)?

Inter Miami CF (Inter Miami Stadium)

David Beckham's new MLS expansion team kicked off in 2020, with its permanent home due to open a season or two later (pending financial and location decisions).

Beckham's ownership group negotiated a real estate deal with the city of Miami to redevelop the city's only golf course into a 25,000 seat capacity ground, mall and office park.

Liverpool (Anfield)

In 2016, the Reds completed the expansion of the new Main Stand at their historic ground to increase Anfield's capacity to just over 54,000. But Liverpool aren't quite finished tinkering just yet. Last year, club chief executive Peter Moore revealed that the Merseyside outfit were considering adding a further 6,000 seats to the Anfield Road End, taking the ground's total capacity to over 60,000.

In July, Moore teased fans further by saying: "I think in the next few months you’re going to hear from us as regards to what those [stadium development] plans will be. I can tell you definitively it won’t be the rather small-to-medium plans we had recently." 

Napoli (Stadio San Paolo)

When the owner of your club calls your own stadium a 'cesspool', it's probably time to find a new home.  

Such is the case for Napoli, with president Aurelio De Laurentiis currently looking at options to finance the building of a new stadium (including even a McDonald's backed venue as one possibility). 

The Stadio San Paolo is currently going through a €23m redevelopment phase, but De Laurentiis is pushing hard for a new stadium altogether. However, obtaining building permits and financial investment from the city is proving difficult. 

Raja Casablanca & Wydad Casablanca (Grand Stade de Casablanca)

This stadium was meant to be part of Morocco's World Cup in 2010 (had they won the bid instead of South Africa), and then again for the 2026 tournament, but unsuccessful bids meant that it will just have to be used by the city's two club sides, as well as the Moroccan national team. 

Undeterred, Morocco now plan to use the stadium - which will have a capacity of 93,000 once it's completed in 2025 - for the 2030 World Cup. Third time's the charm. 

Real Madrid (Santiago Bernabeu)

Real Madrid's impressive plans to modernise their famous home will cost between €525m and €575m to complete.

With an estimated completion date of 2022, the new plans include a retractable roof, encasing the entire ground in stainless steel, and a new commercial space will help bring in €150m in additional annual revenue for the club.

See a full article on the Bernabeu's redevelopment here.

Roma (Stadio della Roma)

The Serie A giants will be moving into their new ground in 2022 (scheduled), saying goodbye to the Stadio Olimpico, which they currently share with rivals Lazio. 

The inspiration for the Stadio della Roma is the Colosseum, which will be reflected in the stone 'scrim' that envelops the outside of the stadium. The seating capacity will be 52,000, though this can be extended to 60,000.

While the designs and concept of the new venue are amazing, construction hasn't actually begun yet. In March, Football Italia reported that Marcello De Vito – President of Rome city council’s assembly – was arrested after he allegedly took bribes from Luca Parnasi, contractor for the Stadio della Roma before he was detained himself.

Despite the news, the club have insisted that construction on the new ground will go ahead as planned. 

Steaua Bucuresti (Stadionul Steaua)

The €77m Stadionul Steaua was scheduled set to be ready in 2020, after two years of construction.

The venue which will be home to Steaua Bucuresti's home games will have a capacity of just 32,000 but it is easily one of the most visually interesting designs, with its ultra-modern star-like facade. 

Valencia (Nou Mestalla)

If you thought Tottenham took a while to build and move into their new ground, you haven't been paying attention to what's going on with Valencia.

In 2007 - yes, 2007 - Valencia began construction on Nou Mestalla, a 54,000-seater stadium intended to replace Estadio Mestalla.

Work carried on for two years, but was then halted for financial reasons during the economic crisis, and Valencia has continued to play in their old ground since. 

However, Los Ches signed an agreement with Deloitte last year to help their transfer to the new ground, and the club are expected to finally move into their new home ahead of the 2020/21 La Liga season...well, that was before the pandemic.