how the Estádio da Luz will expand to reach 80,000 seats.

Nuno Catarino, vice-president and CFO of Benfica, gave more details this Tuesday about the expansion plan for the Estádio da Luz and the construction of the Benfica District, works to be completed by 2029.

In an information session held in Faro, at the Penha Campus of the University of Algarve, the Benfica club official explained the details of the expansion of the Estádio da Luz to 80,000 seats, noting that part of the project is already underway and has increased the capacity from 65,000 spectators to the current 68,000.

This is information we’ve never shared in this way before,” he began. “Part of it involves remodeling the first floor, which implies increasing the number of rows on that floor. This allows for the creation of new rows and has several implications for work behind the pitch, but it’s feasible. There’s a second step, which involves lowering the pitch level. This is possible because it’s earth, so it can be lowered to create a series of rows to make the stadium more like an English stadium, with people even closer to the field. This will allow for an additional few thousand seats,” he revealed. 

Nuno Catarino explained that the next step depends on Portuguese legislation, which does not yet authorize so-called “safe standing” areas. “There is a third step, which we have been working on from a legal and safety perspective, which is to create some safe standing areas: in some sectors of the ground floor, people could stand, as German clubs do, who are the ones who have this most developed. It is possible to do, and we already have some requests to start testing this area. Unfortunately, the legislation in Portugal is not easy. The legislator, typical of Portugal, instead of copying things that work, started copying things from various places, and it became a patchwork. But we are fully convinced that in some sectors it is possible to do it safely and that it will work and improve the stadium atmosphere.”

The final step in the expansion plan, which will allow the Estádio da Luz to have a capacity of 80,000 spectators before the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, will involve expanding the stadium upwards. “When the roof reinforcement is done, the external structure will also need to be reinforced, allowing for the addition of several rows at the back of the stadium. In that area visible from the outside, which currently needs filling in the upper section.

Nuno Catarino, vice-president and CFO of Benfica, gave more details this Tuesday about the expansion plan for the Estádio da Luz and the construction of the Benfica District, works to be completed by 2029.

In an information session held in Faro, at the Penha Campus of the University of Algarve, the Benfica club official explained the details of the expansion of the Estádio da Luz to 80,000 seats, noting that part of the project is already underway and has increased the capacity from 65,000 spectators to the current 68,000.

“This is information we’ve never shared in this way before,” he began. “Part of it involves remodeling the first floor, which implies increasing the number of rows on that floor. This allows for the creation of new rows and has several implications for work behind the pitch, but it’s feasible. There’s a second step, which involves lowering the pitch level. This is possible because it’s earth, so it can be lowered to create a series of rows to make the stadium more like an English stadium, with people even closer to the field. This will allow for an additional few thousand seats,” he revealed.

Nuno Catarino explained that the next step depends on Portuguese legislation, which does not yet authorize so-called “safe standing” areas. “There is a third step, which we have been working on from a legal and safety perspective, which is to create some safe standing areas: in some sectors of the ground floor, people could stand, as German clubs do, who are the ones who have this most developed. It is possible to do, and we already have some requests to start testing this area. Unfortunately, the legislation in Portugal is not easy. The legislator, typical of Portugal, instead of copying things that work, started copying things from various places, and it became a patchwork. But we are fully convinced that in some sectors it is possible to do it safely and that it will work and improve the stadium atmosphere.”

The final step in the expansion plan, which will allow the Estádio da Luz to have a capacity of 80,000 spectators before the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, will involve expanding the stadium upwards. “When the roof reinforcement is done, the external structure will also need to be reinforced, allowing for the addition of several rows at the back of the stadium. In that area visible from the outside, which currently needs filling in the upper section.”

Benfica’s CFO clarified that the stadium works will not halt operations. In other words, Benfica will continue to play at home, especially since the project will take place between May and August, just as it did recently with the last capacity increase.

The expansion of the Estádio da Luz will have an estimated cost of 75 million euros, part of which has already been allocated in two completed expansion phases. “That’s roughly 7,000 euros per seat, which is quite in line with internationally accepted costs for this type of project.”

Alongside the expansion, the creation of the new roof, and the remodeling of the Luz stadium’s facade, the Benfica District will be built, budgeted at €220 million. The first demolitions of existing structures are planned for 2027, and construction will begin in 2028. Until the gradual opening of new spaces, which will take place before the official inauguration of the complex (scheduled for the end of 2029), the club’s various sports teams will have to train and play in borrowed facilities. To this end, agreements will be established with pavilions in Lisbon and the surrounding area. Club services (shop, member services, and other services) will be provided in temporary structures.