Nou Mestalla
Photo: Fotoblog Rare · CC BY 2.0 · source
- Capacity
- 70,044
- Year opened
- 2024
- Club
- —
- Country
- Spain
Overview
About the stadium
Nou Mestalla is a partially built football stadium in Valencia, Spain, intended as a replacement for the current home of Valencia CF — the historic Mestalla. Its final capacity will be 70,044. The basic concrete structure was raised between 2007 and 2009, after which work was halted for years.
Location and surroundings
The stadium is being built in the Benicalap neighbourhood in north-western Valencia, on the site of a former factory. The location was chosen to give Valencia CF a modern arena with better access than the cramped historic Mestalla in the city centre. The project was designed by architects Reid Fenwick Asociados and ArupSport, with costs estimated between €250 million and €300 million. The exterior has a futuristic look clad in aluminium, while the interior features wood.
Main uses
Nou Mestalla is conceived purely as a football stadium for Valencia CF, one of the traditional clubs of Spain's La Liga. Once finished, it is meant to take over as the home ground and replace the historic Mestalla, used by the club since 1923. The target capacity of 70,044 would make it one of the largest football stadiums in Spain. For most of two decades, however, construction was suspended for financial reasons, and at the time of writing the venue remains incomplete.
History
Journey through time
The history of Nou Mestalla is the story of an ambitious project stalled by financial trouble. Valencia CF began construction in 2007, hoping to move quickly from the historic Mestalla to a modern arena seating 70,044 in the Benicalap district.
Construction and opening
The basic concrete structure was built between August 2007 and February 2009. Work then stopped for financial reasons, as Valencia CF ran into economic difficulties. The bare skeleton of the stadium stood unfinished for years, becoming a symbol of derailed plans. The project was drawn up by Reid Fenwick Asociados and ArupSport, with a budget estimated at €250 million to €300 million.
Major renovations
During the long suspension the design went through multiple redesigns that altered both capacity and form. The final version provides 70,044 seats. Construction work was eventually resumed in January 2025, restarting the project after more than fifteen years. The shell is to be clad in aluminium and the interior fitted out in wood.
Notable moments
The most striking chapter in the stadium's story is, paradoxically, its long dormancy — after 2009 the unfinished concrete frame stood as a visible reminder of the crisis at Valencia CF. The resumption of work in January 2025 marks a fresh start and the hope that the Benicalap site will finally replace the historic Mestalla.
Atmosphere
Matchday
Because Nou Mestalla remains unfinished, it has no matchday atmosphere of its own yet. The fan culture of Valencia CF still plays out at the historic Mestalla, with its steep stands and intimidating environment that the new arena is meant one day to inherit.
Fan culture
Supporters of Valencia CF are among the most passionate in Spain, and their home remains the Mestalla, famed for its sharply raked stands and the pressure it puts on visiting teams. The planned move to the new Nou Mestalla, with its 70,044 capacity, stirs mixed feelings among fans — hope for modern facilities alongside fears of losing the unique atmosphere of the traditional ground. The long suspension of construction has also been a sore subject among supporters.
Big matches
No competitive match has yet been played at Nou Mestalla, as the venue is not complete. The big games of Valencia CF, including derbies and La Liga fixtures, continue to be staged at the historic Mestalla. Once finished and opened, the new arena in Benicalap is intended to host the club's most important home encounters.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Nou Mestalla sits in the Benicalap neighbourhood in north-western Valencia. As the site is still under construction and closed to the public, practical visitor information is limited and relates mainly to the city of Valencia itself.
How to get there
The Benicalap district lies on the north-western edge of central Valencia and is reachable by city public transport. Because Nou Mestalla is not yet operational, there is no matchday transport arrangement for it. Visitors who want to watch Valencia CF play football still head to the historic Mestalla in the city centre.
Tickets and tours
Since Nou Mestalla is an unfinished building, tickets cannot be bought for it and no tours are offered. All competitive fixtures and organised tours take place at the existing Mestalla. Follow the official channels of Valencia CF for news on when the new 70,044-seat arena will open.
Visitor tips
- When to come: The stadium is under construction and closed — for football, visit the historic Mestalla.
- What to see: The concrete frame in Benicalap can be glimpsed from the street, but the site is not accessible.
- What to watch: Construction resumed in January 2025; check the current status with Valencia CF.
- Where else: For a football experience in Valencia, head to the steep, atmospheric Mestalla.
Map
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Valencia, Spain
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