The forgotten plan for Valencia and Levante to share 'Nuevo Mestalla'
With Valencia's new stadium finally under construction after 16 years, we look back at the curious proposal for both city clubs to share one venue during financial troubles.
As Valencia’s long-abandoned Nuevo Mestalla finally sees construction activity, a curious chapter from its troubled history emerges - when the city council proposed both Valencia and Levante share the same stadium.
After 16 years gathering dust, Valencia’s new stadium is finally showing proper signs of life. The construction crews are back on site, with work visibly progressing week by week. One of the major developments has been the installation of the exterior pillars that will support the stadium’s roof - a structure that’ll weigh a whopping 4,800 tonnes according to Valencia’s work plan.
The abandoned cathedral
The Nuevo Mestalla has been Valencia’s white elephant for over a decade and a half. Construction officially ground to a halt on February 25, 2009, when the club announced they’d run out of dosh. The half-built concrete shell has been an eyesore blighting the city landscape ever since.
Only Spain’s successful 2030 World Cup bid (shared with Portugal and Morocco) finally brought all parties to the table, ending years of squabbling between the club and city council. The current target is to have it ready by mid-2027.
The shared stadium proposal
What many have forgotten is that in September 2010, with both Valencia clubs facing severe financial troubles, the city council floated an intriguing proposal - having Valencia and Levante share the new stadium on Avenida Cortes Valencianas.
At the time, Levante were hoping for rezoning of their Ciutat de Valencia stadium grounds. The council’s Sports Strategic Plan presented by the Municipal Sports Foundation included the possibility of a shared venue.
City officials were careful to frame it as “provoking debate, not imposing anything” and planned to present the study to both clubs. However, like many plans for the cursed stadium, this one remained more romantic notion than reality.
Different paths taken
Levante ultimately went in another direction. After exploring options including a potential move to Nazaret, they eventually invested millions in renovating their existing Ciutat de Valencia stadium about five years ago.
Seville’s temporary sharing arrangement
Interestingly, a similar situation is now unfolding in Seville. Real Betis are currently playing at La Cartuja while the Benito Villamarín undergoes renovations, which may run longer than expected. Meanwhile, Sevilla FC plan to begin remodeling the Sánchez Pizjuán in June 2027.
This could create a brief period where the fierce rivals might need to share La Cartuja - a prospect that’s causing some discomfort at Betis, even if it would only be temporary.