FC Sion has released ambitious plans to build a new stadium with a rollercoaster and an 80-room hotel attached. The design is estimated to cost £420 million, with club officials hoping the ground will be complete within the next four years.
Project 'Sion 2030'
The project is being dubbed 'Sion 2030' by developers and is the brainchild of president and owner Christian Constantin. The 69-year-old, an architect by trade, wants the stadium to set the standard for new builds in Swiss football.
He is calling it the 'Cervin Coliseum', which will be built completely from scratch after deciding not to renovate the historic Tourbillon Stadium. The new stadium will hold between 15,000 and 21,000 supporters on a matchday.
Club statement and amenities
A statement from the club read: "This new step will allow the services of the State of Valais and the Municipality of Sion to identify the technical constraints and problems related to the construction. Their input and comments will be necessary to finalise the project before its public consultation, scheduled for mid-2027."
But the real marvel comes from its non-footballing amenities, which include a rollercoaster and a hotel. As detailed in the computer-generated stadium designs, a massive loop-the-loop snakes around one side of the stadium, providing a truly unique experience.
Year-round use
Constantin's idea is to keep the venue in use year-round, specifically on days and weeks when there isn't any football being played. That means building a multi-purpose stadium, with another impressive feature being a system that covers a natural grass pitch with a hard surface.
This will allow the Swiss Super League club to host concerts at the stadium, with an estimated capacity of 33,000 for shows and other entertainment events. And with 80 hotel rooms integrated into the stadium, it really would act as an all-year-round money-maker for FC Sion.
Reaction to the design
Reacting to the planned design, @Yukk1 said on Instagram: "Yo, that's gonna be crazy if there's a roller coaster. I'm so hyped."
@schluemi: "It comes with a roller coaster?? [two loveheart eyes emojis]." @Antonisantonoulas questioned: "Pretty expensive for only 15,000 seats." And @aeternus.abba added: "Looks too good for 15k seats only, make it 50k and its the best stadium in the world."
