When you talk about a football club’s home ground, you usually think of green grass and cheering fans. But for Benfica, their Estádio da Luz might become much more. Rui Costa, a familiar face from the club’s past, has a bold plan. He wants to totally change the area around the stadium. It’s an idea that could shake things up if he wins the October elections.
This isn’t just about football anymore. Costa’s vision includes building two multi-purpose arenas. Imagine one that can hold up to 10,000 people. It wouldn’t just be for sports. Think about concerts and other big events. This is a clever way to bring in more money for the club. Even with these new spaces, the main Estádio da Luz would still host the biggest shows, just like always.
A Hub Beyond Match Days
The new plans don’t stop there. Costa dreams of a whole complex. There would be a swimming pool, an athletics track, and a bustling area for shops and restaurants. A theater hall is also on the drawing board. This theater could host plays or business meetings. Plus, there’s talk of a hotel and a place for athletes to live. These ideas are already on paper. Costa wants to bring them to life someday.
The goal is clear: make the stadium area useful all year round. It would bring in all sorts of new people, not just football fans. The newspaper Record shared that the club’s current leaders already believe this space can be used better. Since the current Estádio da Luz opened in 2003, there’s been potential waiting to be unlocked.
The Seating Showdown
The future of the Estádio da Luz is a hot topic for the upcoming elections. Other candidates have their own big ideas for stadium capacity. Martim Mayer, for instance, told Lusa news agency he wants to raise the number of seats to 83,000. Luís Filipe Vieira, as reported by Correio da Manhã, aims even higher, suggesting 120,000 seats.
But the current leadership is not just talking. They are already working on stadium improvements. For the start of the next season, 68,100 seats will be ready for fans. Rui Costa and his team have a final goal in mind: reaching a total of 70,000 seats. This shows the stadium’s future is a clear focus for anyone hoping to lead Benfica.