Barcelona

SuperDave84 wrote: A large amount of it is renovation and construction of new facilities outside, along with retrofitting inside. They don't have to demolish the old bowl or dig new foundations for a new bowl, afaik. That's why it is cheaper.

Having just seen the club video, it seems you're absolutely right:
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11833/10252553/watch-barcas-new-camp-nou

But I have to say, it could end up being "All fur coat and no knickers", since the basic bowl is pretty crap (imo).

If you remove the existing seats, paint the concrete steps, and put in a few plush leather VIP seats under the new roof, it won't matter a jot that the concrete underfoot is from the 1950s, especially if the corporates are walking only 10 or 20 steps from the brand new box suits out the back, fully kitted out with an array of 50 inch flat screen tvs and unlimited prawns and champagne on demand.

The facilities that are needed are outside the bowl and can be easily built around the bowl. The roof can be put on like a cap: look at Strasbourg train station or Kings Cross as an example (albeit on a smaller scale). The old, faded seats can be removed and replaced. The fit out underneath the bowl (the toilets, the hot dog stands, the bars) and the corporate facilities can easily be built around the outside of the bowl.

Once you keep the basic structure of the existing stadium and build around it and above it, you can do it in a way that allows modern facilities while retaining the existing structure, minimising costs quite dramatically.

Look at Lambeau Field as well: the bowl was retained, but outside, beneath, and above, they added a heap of facilities without having the rebuild the place from scratch. For that matter, look at the way they added a tier to the San Siro before the 1990 world cup: even looking at modern pictures, you can see the old bowl underneath, with its distinctive ramps (reflected in the ramps of the towers on the newer structure.

There's plenty of historical precedent for modernising stadiums by adding facilities to an existing bowl without the expense or hassle associated with extra land acquisition, demolition, rebuilding of foundations and reconstruction of a slightly different, slightly bigger bowl. It's a much cheaper project.

Zinedine Kilbane 110 wrote: It feels like a refurb rather than a new stadium but "branding" it a new stadium makes it easier to sell the naming rights to it. They could never re-name the existing Nou Camp/Camp Nou.

Good point re. naming rights.

That said, even if it could never stretch to a (complete) re-build, €600m is surely more than a (mere) "refurb"?

A redevelopment?

Have had a 72m bid for Coutinho rejected

 Neymar has told Paris Saint-Germain he wants to move to the Parc des Princes and agreed to terms on a contract, a source close to the French club has told ESPN FC.

His decision means PSG can now push forward with their plans to trigger the Brazil international's €222 million buyout clause.

The source said Neymar and his father, who has been in discussions with PSG's ambitious Qatari owners and sporting director Antero Henrique for the past few days, have agreed to a massive contract of at least four years.

Edited by Double Maxim - 23 Jul 2017 at 9:49am

MC Hammered wrote: He scored two crackers against Juve yesterday. It would be a real shame to see him go to PSG.

It worked for Maradona !

Did I not see something online that suggested Barcelona were happy to cash in? Something to do with the top brass at the club being a bit fed up with his lifestyle.

He's top drawer. Ballon D'or winner within 2 years imo

BabbsBalls wrote: He's top drawer. Ballon D'or winner within 2 years imo

He's definitely in that small group of players that are world class but below Messi/Ronaldo.
He is 5 years younger than Messi (30) and Ronnie is 33 in Feb.