While the passion for more than 30 years under construction is not silent in Vilnius National Stadium, Riga undertook the second stadium project in the city. It is planned that the new stadium should accommodate 15 to 20 people. people (the project has not yet been announced), and the end of its construction is expected no earlier than 2027.
Riga City Council will soon have to decide whether to build a national football stadium in Lucavsala. At the beginning of April, information appeared that the responsible municipal committee had already approved the use of more than 10 hectares of land for construction. A total of 10 places were offered, from which the best three were selected. The authorities tend to build the stadium in the central part of the city, while managing the surrounding infrastructure.
Residents fear losing city gardens
Similar to Vilnius, the construction of the Riga stadium is not without scandals. The FA says the location in Lucavsala was chosen because it does not conflict with any other building plans and is in the central part of the city. Meanwhile, residents expressed concern about the location chosen for the stadium. According to them, some of the city's gardens, which are an important place of recreation for city residents, will be affected.
According to the Riga municipality, the construction of the football stadium will not affect the gardens, but they will be affected by the general development plans of the area, which envisage the installation of a transport connection between Bauskas and Mūkusalas streets through Lucavsala. In order to ensure the transport infrastructure, it is planned to build several more pedestrian and bicycle bridges to Lucavsala, and the construction of the connection with the South Bridge has long been foreseen in the planning documents.
The price of the stadium would reach 50 million euros
The plot of land in Lucavsala is planned to be transferred to the Latvian Football Federation for use until the real estate is needed by the local authorities to ensure their functions, but no longer than five years. Within five years, the football federation must prepare the documentation for the construction of the stadium. The president of the Football Federation, Vadimas Lashenko, currently estimates that the construction costs of the stadium will reach 50 million. euros.
Investors from the United Arab Emirates are also interested
It is important to note that this project is not only a sports facility, but also a potential center for culture and events. The final budget and design of the stadium have yet to be determined, but it is expected that investors not only from Latvia, but also from the international community, including the United Arab Emirates, will participate.
UAE businessman Mohamed Ali Alabbar has already met with the local authorities and the Minister of the Ministry of Finance. During the meeting, the potential involvement of the businessman in the construction of the stadium was discussed. The businessman is better known as the founder of the company Emaar Properties, one of the most famous projects of which is the world's tallest building Burj Khalifa.
The local government has yet to make a decision on the management of the plot of land. She intends to discuss this on April 17. at the upcoming municipal council meeting.
The end of the project is planned no earlier than 2027.
Aim for the fourth category assessment
Latvija is the only country in Europe without a Category 4 stadium to host international matches, the federation said. This type of football stadium would also be suitable for mass events, concerts and conferences.
Currently, there is already one stadium in Riga with a capacity of about 10. people. It is near the railway of the station "Daugava" stadium.
