'World's greatest stadium' abandoned for years and bigger than Arsenal's set to open soon

After a staggering 16-year abandonment, Valencia's Nou Mestalla stadium is finally planned to open its doors. Touted as the "world's greatest", the 70,000-seater - which dwarves even Arsenal's 60,704-capacity Emirates - was initially slated to be used from the 2009/10 La Liga season.

Yet, financial woes in amid the 2008 crash cast doubt over Valencia's move to their new ground. The six-time La Liga champions were saddled with debts of about £350million and struggled to sell their current Mestalla home. A failed attempt to secure a £90m bank loan also appeared to doom the relocation efforts, and consequently, the project was shelved in 2009 and has been gathering dust since. But now, there's light at the end of the tunnel as Valencia have bagged a whopping £275m in funding to finish the Nou Mestalla, targeting a grand opening in 2027.

The club's official website announced: "Valencia CF has successfully secured the full financing for Nou Mestalla - the most significant non-sporting project in the club's history. Scheduled to open in 2027, Nou Mestalla will serve as a global benchmark for modern stadium developments.

"The modern state-of-the-art stadium will drive Valencia CF's growth and unlock new long-term sustainable revenue streams that will strengthen the club's influence and competitiveness for decades to come.

"Nou Mestalla is not just a transformative investment for Valencia CF - it will be a landmark and legacy project for the city and is set to become an iconic symbol for Valencia CF fans, benefiting the city of Valencia, its residents, and visitors.

"This new stadium has been designed in line with the world 's leading multifunctional venues and is expected to multiply the revenue currently generated at the old Mestalla facility. Nou Mestalla will become the epicentre for sport, leisure, and entertainment in the city and throughout the wider Valencia region.

"Built to meet FIFA's highest stadium classification and featuring over 70,000 seats, nearly 10% of which will be hospitality seating, transforming every match or event into a premium experience.

"A wide range of dining, leisure and event-hosting options will turn Nou Mestalla into a year-round entertainment venue which will in turn significantly increase the economic potential beyond the constraints of former Mestalla."

Valencia CF President Kiat Lim also shared his enthusiasm of the endeavour: "This marks a historic milestone for Valencia CF. Securing this landmark financing gives us the green light to deliver Nou Mestalla - a world-class stadium that will power the club's growth for generations.

"It is the clearest expression of our long-term commitment to Valencia, and a reflection of the trust and confidence the club now commands in global financial markets. With this agreement, we are building more than a stadium - we are building the future of Valencia CF."

The Nou Mestalla could also become one of the illustrious stadiums hosting the 2030 World Cup, as Spain, Portugal, and Morocco prepare to welcome the world's biggest football event - potentially joining iconic venues such as the Bernabeu, Camp Nou and Estadio da Luz.