The air around Lisbon’s iconic José Alvalade Stadium is thick with anticipation. Big changes are underway, but a huge question hangs in the balance: Will Sporting CP kick off their home season there? The Lions are set to face Arouca on the weekend of August 16 and 17. Everyone is watching closely to see if their usual stadium will be ready.
Good news just broke: a fresh green carpet is rolling out this week. Our sources tell us the club’s leadership plans to start laying the new turf at Alvalade right away. Just last week, the ground was leveled, and the vital piping and irrigation systems were put in place. These steps are crucial before any grass can go down.
But there’s more than just a new pitch. The stadium’s famous “ditch” is vanishing. Workers are busy closing this area, adding new rows of seats. This means 2,000 more fans can pack into the stadium. Imagine the roar with those extra voices!
Players will also walk a new path to the pitch. The new entrance from the locker rooms is almost done. It’s a special tunnel, different from what you usually see in stadiums. This will surely add a grand feel for the players and fans alike.
It wasn’t by chance that Sporting starts the championship away from home against Casa Pia. The club made a special request to the League. This clever chess move gives them precious extra time to get José Alvalade Stadium in perfect shape for their first home game. Club president Frederico Varandas and his board are very keen on this plan.
But there’s a financial twist. If the Spanish company handling the construction, INEXO – Politérmica Engenharia, misses the deadline for closing the ditch, Sporting could get some money back. It means there are high stakes for everyone involved.
