'I live next to abandoned 80,000-seat ghost football stadium – it's ruined our lives'

In the shadow of an unfinished 80,000-seater World Cup stadium, a community that had been left to wonder 'what if' now has a glimpse of the future. The Nou Mestalla was meant to bring regeneration and hope to Benicalap, one of Valencia's more deprived areas.

The project, which broke ground in 2007, had been abandoned and left in ruins for over a decade. It was intended to be the new home of Valencia, who were on a high after La Liga title wins in 2002 and 2004, helping them break the Real Madrid-Barcelona dominance in Spanish football.

However, financial difficulties soon struck, and the project was put on hold. However, it has finally been given an opening date with Valencia having secured funding to the tune of £275m, which will help them finally complete the construction of the Nou Mestalla, with an aim to move in by 2027.

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The news will have given locals hope that their dreams for the area can finally come true - and they can stop living under the eyesore that was supposed to be one of the world's largest stadiums, reports the Daily Star.

"Everyone asks about it because it is so big and it is so ugly for the views," a local hotel receptionist said in November 2023. Another resident added: "Whatever it is, it is better to have it finished. A building for business, a building for sport, a building for partying, whatever. But it needs to be done... not that."

The vast and towering Nou Mestalla stadium, originally set to accommodate 80,000 supporters and positioned on a former factory site, promised a surge in tourism for Benicalap's locals.

Speaking of squandered dreams, one woman said: "My mother bought this cafe 15 years ago. She bought it for exactly that point, for the stadium. But we are waiting for them to start again, to have a great business. We are waiting, I hope they will start again.

"This neighbourhood is not so rich. We try hard to pay our bills. We are a working family and we are working hard, but it is not easy," she added.

Yet, the unfinished structure wasn't just a symbol of failed opportunities; for some, like a cheerful restaurant owner nearby, it held the thrill of being part of football history. He said: "When someone from outside comes, they always ask about it I am also a fan of football and I love to see something like that.

"I know the story of this but I do not feel like it is unfinished. Fans of football, if they see the stadium, they are feeling something and I feel the same. It is my dream to be near the stadium, near all the players of Valencia and the World Cup and more."

Like his neighbours, he is eager to seize the opportunities for the local area if it is completed. "If they make it, everything will be great," he added.

"Money will come to the people and the businesses here. Fans of football will always be here, hopefully with the Champions League and World Cup, everyone will be here. It will be such a beautiful opportunity for the people here. I wish, I hope that they will do it."

One resident - also a big football fan - did voice their concerns about the safety of the structure if they were to continue the project - and suggested that they might need to demolish it to utilise the site.

He stated: "Engineering wise, it cannot be safe, so if they want to build, they will have to knock down the whole thing. It will take time and money. But when you remember the World Cup in Qatar, they did not have the stadiums but in six months, they build stadiums. They can do the same and that is what I wish for."

It now looks like the residents will get their wish. The Nou Mestalla could also join a whole host of prestigious stadiums which will play host to the 2030 World Cup, which will take place across Spain, Portugal and Morocco

A statement on the official Valencia website says: "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."

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