Limassol’s new stadium unlikely to be delivered on time

The planting of grass, the importation of special purpose sand, an unfinished road network and unresolved management costs will likely delay the handover of the new Limassol football stadium.

The new football stadium in Limassol, currently under construction, is a project that has been plagued with problems from the start. Issues that came up included the size and number of seats, a suspect tender procedure, and a cost that ballooned from approximately €15 million to €35 million.

Now, two months before the agreed hand over, several issues remain unresolved, and it appears rather optimistic to believe the stadium would be delivered on time.

The Limassol clubs – Ael, Apollonas, Ael – will still be playing at Tsirion stadium at the start of the new football season.

The biggest problem facing the contractors now is the planting of the field’s grass. For the grass, a special purpose sand that has to be imported from Egypt, is needed. Its transportation has yet to be finalized. It will also require a three-month waiting period after the planting of the grass for the field to be fully playable.

Moreover, time will be required to allow clubs to adjust to the new premises, something that cannot occur until the developer hands the project over.

In addition, of crucial importance is the completion of the road works, a development with an attached cost of €10 million, that will connect the stadium to the wider road network of the area as the current one is unsuitable. The road’s first phase is expected to be finished by December 7.