La Cartuja, ready for a grand reopening
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are due to set foot in the stadium for the first time since the refurbishment of the Seville stadium, which, with its increased capacity, has become the fourth largest stadium in Spain.
A grand occasion, two top-level teams and the La Cartuja stadium, for the sixth consecutive year holding the Copa del Rey final and following extensive refurbishment and expansion work; it will be the ideal setting for an event of such magnitude.
The Seville stadium, inaugurated on 5 May 1999 in a match between the Spanish national team and Croatia (3-1), has been decked out for its eighth final of the Copa del Rey, having undergone improvements such as the expansion of its capacity to 70,000, rising to fourth place in the ranking of the largest-capacity stadiums in Spain.
An increase of 12,000 seats, a new stand reaching down to a new pitch level that is five metres lower than previously, orange coloured seats, and the luxury of a ground meeting UEFA's highest rating of 'Elite Stadium' after hosting matches of Euro 2020, for one of the most important occasions in Spanish football.
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF will thus reinaugurate the stadium and enjoy the improvements made to one of the finest venues in the country, a candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Now it is only awaiting the roar of the crowds from the stands.
