March 20 – Brussels’s King Baudouin Stadium could be remodelled to become a 40,000 all-seater ‘Golden Generation Arena’ by 2022 in plans backed by the Belgian FA (KBVB). The Belgian capital had been chosen to stage Euro 2020 matches, but the proposed ‘Eurostadium’ never got beyond the planning stages.
On Tuesday the Belgian FA and sports event agency Golazo backed plans to refurbish the old Heysel Stadium (also known as the King Badouin), which hosts Belgium’s home internationals and an annual Diamond League athletics meeting. The previous ‘Eurostadium’ plans had foundered as administrative procedures delayed and eventually killed off construction.
“We will reduce the impact on the environment,” said KBVB CEO Peter Bossaert. “The stadium will have a smaller capacity. We aim for 40,000 places, which will improve mobility and quality of life.”
“If you see our infrastructure: the toilets, changing rooms, seats… the condition of the stadium is – I can say – lamentable. The capacity is now at 42,000 – we have no problem going back to 40,000 places. We have – this time it is really true – support from all political parties. We need to use this momentum to start this renovation. “
The KBVB is banking on public financing in the range of €150-200 million for the stadium’s wide-ranging facelift.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713934618labto1713934618ofdlr1713934618owedi1713934618sni@o1713934618fni1713934618