Valencia's Nou Mestalla, once billed as the world's greatest football stadium, is nearing completion almost 20 years after construction first began. The La Liga club posted an update on the progress of the new ground, which was originally slated to be ready for the 2009/10 season.
Long-delayed project revives
Plans to build the Nou Mestalla have been in the works since August 2007, with the initial completion target set for the summer of 2009. The stadium was designed to hold 80,000 people, earning it the title of the planet's premier football ground, but that figure was later reduced to 70,044 following revised plans.
Crushing financial woes put the project on hold. The club failed to meet the construction deadline and had hoped to sell their old ground, the Mestalla Stadium, to fund the replacement, but the unpredictability of the property market scuppered that plan.
New funding and progress
In 2025, Valencia secured a $322 million (£242m) refinancing and construction package supported by Goldman Sachs and La Liga, allowing work to resume. The club took to their official X account to share photos of the stadium and the work being done, with a caption reading: "Our new home, getting closer every day. Step by step, the daily work brings Nou Mestalla ever closer to its final appearance."
The club's current home seats 49,430 supporters, meaning more than 20,000 additional seats will be available at the Nou Mestalla. The Mestalla has been Valencia's home since 1923 and is purely operated as a football stadium, while the new ground is designed to be an all-purpose arena.
Year-round venue plans
Plans for the Nou Mestalla to become a year-round venue mean it will be able to host events such as concerts and conferences. Valencia are also set to dramatically increase their hospitality seats, with those purchasing such packages having access to facilities and restaurants throughout the year.
The club have laid out plans for 45 bars to be spread across the ground, as well as food kiosks and a disco area with a nightclub-style feel. Excitement is high around Valencia, but the team's form has been poor, sitting 19th in the La Liga table after seven games with one win, one draw and five losses.
