Works on the Nuevo Mestalla stadium will resume at the beginning of 2012, according to an announcement of the mayor of Valencia and the club’s president last Tuesday.
Construction of the stadium, which began in August 2007, was halted early 2009 with little indication during the last three years of when works would resume. However, after the club came to an agreement with main creditor Bankia on the financing of the remaining part of the project, which is said to amount to €150 million, the road is free to continue the construction. The deal with Bankia furthermore involves the banking conglomerate taking over the current Estadio Mestalla.
The announcement furthermore outlined a number of changes in the project, of which a new roof structure seems the most significant. The roof is now reported to be constructed of blue glass which will change in brightness depending on the level of light outside. It hereby reflects the “real luminosity of the city of Valencia.”
With the works resuming in 2012, the club expects them to finish in two years, and to play at the stadium from the start of the 2014/2015 season.
Images: © Arup