New player on national team - British company helps construction of Serbian national stadium for EURO 2020

Serbia is going to have an extra player on its team for the construction of a national stadium. The Football Association of Serbia (FAS) will be assisted in the implementation of this project by one of the world's best "goalgetters" - Mace from Great Britain, a leading company in the field of management of the development of sports projects.

Lovers of the most important secondary thing in the world have a reason more since recently to hope for the construction of a national football stadium. UEFA's decision to have the European Cup 2020 organized in as many as 13 countries has additionally encouraged FAS officials to "speed up offense." Namely, in order for our country to be one of the candidates for a host, it is necessary that we have a facility that meets strict criteria.

Since this is an exceptionally valuable project, for which our country has no money, FAS has decided to look for a private partner willing to invest in a national stadium. In that way, Serbia could finally get a contemporary complex built after the European model, which would be intended for other sports as well as cultural events and concerts in addition to football, and could be in use 365 days a year.

FAS and Mace have recently signed an agreement in Belgrade on business and technical cooperation in the development of the National Stadium of Serbia project, and this deal is also supported by the Embassy of Great Britain. Presentation of the national stadium project to prospective investors will precede the selection of possible locations and the work on a feasibility study and preliminary designs.

The Mace company was the London Olympics project manager. People at FAS are not hiding their satisfaction with this partnership, while spokesperson Aleksandar Boskovic says to eKapija that the public can expect to hear more details about the national stadium project after the FAS Assembly that will be held March 7th.

A good news is that the Football Association of Serbia has enough time to make a deal with investors and the state. The deadline to apply to host EURO 2020 is 20 April 2014 by when FAS should submit a previously adopted feasibility study, project concept and a proof of funds to UEFA.

Director of Belgrade-based Solidity Real Estate Jovica Jakovac says to eKapija that the idea to involve a private investor in this project is excellent because Serbia will thus obtain a multifunctional and, therefore, economically sustainable facility.

- Apart from football matches, this facility could also host other sporting events, such as motorcycle races or rugby games, as well as concerts and similar events - says our interlocutor.

- Also, the investor would definitely have commercial facilities built next to the very stadium, such as a shopping center, restaurants, residential block... This would make the complex profitable and sustainable in a long run, which is an imperative in the 21st century - our interlocutor explains.

Where to build?

One of the questions that football fans would probably ask is where the national stadium could be built. A list of possible locations must be made before the project is offered to investors as they are the ones to make a final decision.

In the opinion of the director of Solidity Real Estate, the most realistic option is to build this facility in the capital city or its surroundings, which is also a tradition in European countries.

- One of the prospective locations is, primarily, Stara Pazova, which already features the House of Football. Also, Stara Pazova has enough land and the zoning for sports facilities, so getting a permit probably won't be a problem.

Jakovac notes that this location would be excellent if a hotel or a fun park is built next to the stadium.

When it comes to the capital city, Jovica Jakovac believes that attractive locations could be those in the vicinity of the Belgrade airport or the future Zemun-Borca Bridge as well as the right bank of the Danube River, that is, the Luka Beograd (Port of Belgrade) area.

- In my opinion, that is the most suitable, but also the least feasible option due to a complicated ownership structure. Construction of a football stadium would bring this part of Belgrade to life in the same way as the eastern part of London was revived with the construction of an Olympic stadium, O2 Arena and the Olympic Village for the Olympic Games as well as the largest shopping center in Great Britain.

Jakovac adds that we should not forget the possibility of reconstructing the stadium of Partizan FC or Zvezda FC, or even the stadium of Beograd YFC or Rad FC. However, the issue of ownership can emerge as a problem in this case.

However, the final say will certainly come from investors. One of the criteria that may be important to them is - what they plan to build next to the stadium.

- It is logical that investors would choose Belgrade rather than a small town if they want to have a shopping center or a large residential block built in the vicinity of the stadium - says our interlocutor.

Stadium with at least 70,000 seats required for the final

UEFA defined the principles of venue selection for the European Football Championship 2020 at a session of its Executive Board in late January.

Twelve cities will host four matches (three group stage matches + one round of 16/quarter-final match), while a 13th city will host the semi-finals and final.

Each national football association may bid for either or both of the above packages. However, a maximum of one city per country will be chosen.

The minimum stadium capacities should be 70,000 for semi-finals/final, 60,000 for quarter-finals, and 50,000 for round of 16 and group matches. Up to two exceptions would be allowed for stadiums of a minimum capacity of 30,000, limited to group matches and a round of 16 match.

Host countries will be named in September 2014.

M.S.