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Europe’s love for football is undeniable. The entire nation cheers together, whether in the UEFA EURO finals or on any other occasion where the sport is present in their lives.
That said, it is not surprising that the continent is also home to some of the most stunning stadiums in the world. Featuring top-notch technology and bold architecture, the region built some football temples that became true inspirations for the world.
But here, we will talk about one of them specifically: The Estadio de la Cartuja. This arena is one of the most important in Spain, having hosted some of the most iconic football matches in the country’s history. If you want to learn more about it, you came to the right place.
Here, we will show you some of the main curiosities of La Cartuja and what makes this venue so special for all European fans. Make sure to pay attention to every detail, and you’ll become an expert in the matter. Here’s everything you need to know about Estadio de la Cartuja de Sevilla, or simply La Cartuja:
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Estadio de la Cartuja Location
V&A Dudush, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This piece of architecture is located in a region of Spain known as Seville, more specifically in Isla de la Cartuja. It is a multi-purpose stadium situated in one of the most crowded regions of Spain and has already hosted all kinds of sports, like athletics, tennis, and others, with some of them being part of world championships and international competitions. The stadium might not be the most famous or the closest to Madrid, but it is one of the most important when it comes to competitions and preferred venues for events of all kinds.
Estadio La Cartuja was officially finished in May 1999, and it soon became one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city. Whether you were on a trip to nearby towns or just looking for things to do in Spain, the new arena next to the centre was a must-go thanks to its outstanding architecture.
Its construction was finished right on time for its opening event, the 7th World Championship in Athletics. It was one of the year’s most important events and officially marked the first steps of this stadium’s history as one of Europe’s most important venues.
Curiosities About Estadio La Cartuja
Now it’s time to see some curiosities about La Cartuja that you probably didn’t know. From epic events the stadium hosted to details about its construction, we will cover every aspect of this incredible piece of architecture that keeps attracting tourists worldwide to spectate its beauty. Make sure to take a look at each element below, and you’ll become an expert when it comes to Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Its Original Name Is Not La Cartuja
Frobles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Many fans don’t know that Estadio de la Cartuja was not its original name. It was initially called Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla, a reference to one of its owners, the Seville city council.
The stadium is owned by six parties, with different percentages of ownership and impact on decisions. The biggest percentage belongs to the regional government of Andalusia, with 40%. Along with them, you also have the Spanish government, with 25%, the Seville city council, with 19%, and the Seville Congress of Disputes, with 13%. The remaining 3% are the only part that belongs to private parties and is divided by two football teams. Estadio Olimpico de Sevilla is home to two football clubs: Real Betis and Sevilla F.C. Both of these teams have their own stadiums and move to La Cartuja when their home arenas can’t be used for any reason.
One of the Possible Stadiums to Host the 2030 FIFA World Cup
The bowl-design stadium is also one of the venues that could host at least one match during the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in multiple countries around the world, including Spain. The tournament didn’t confirm which arenas will be ground for the matches to come, so it is still speculation.
Along with Spanish stadiums, the competition is also expected to take place in Morocco, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It is one of the only editions where the journey to the final prize will pass through different countries, creating a unique experience for both the fans and players attending the events. Spain has numerous arenas that can potentially host the matches, and considering the versatility of La Cartuja, whether when it comes to the capacity or any other aspect, it is one of the best options for international competition.
It Has Its Own Train Station
CarlosVdeHabsburgo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Transportation is also a great aspect of La Cartuja Stadium. Its own train station can be accessed through the main Santa Justa station, making transportation between areas of Sevilla very easy. The arena is located on the north-western edge of Isla de La Cartuja, also the limit-city of Sevilla, so easy transportation to Station Estadio Olimpico and other areas becomes indispensable for a comfortable experience. This also impacts La Cartuja’s choice not only as the venue for the World Cup but also for other events, like concerts and championships.
It is an 18-minute ride from the main train stations in the region, and the ticket to ride costs only 4 euros, which is a very cheap means of transportation. If you don’t want to take the train, you can take a 30-minute bus ride for only $2, being the most affordable option. Another common choice is taking a taxi, and for this option, the price can vary from 15 to 40 euros depending on the distance and where you want to go. It is a fast but expensive option.
If you plan on visiting the stadium as a tourist, don’t worry about the transportation options. You’ll surely find one that fits your pocket and needs. During my time in the region I’ve had no problems with transportation and I used the train to go almost everywhere. It’s quick and affordable, being a great option.
Its Opening Was Not as Well as Expected
JonnyJonny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As mentioned, the stadium officially opened in May 1999 with an international match between Spain and Croatia. La Cartuja might be a successful and famous venue today, but its first steps were far from expectations.
It was included in the list of bids for hosting two of the Summer Olympic games. Still, both negotiations failed, and the stadium remained unused for a long time before hosting another competition.
After the first frustrating attempt to host the Olympic event, the next big venue was the Davis Cup in 2004 as well. For this event, La Cartuja had a temporary roof, one of the only structural changes to ever happen to the arena during its history. The same roof was added again in 2011 for a special Royal Spanish Tennis Federation match.
Now, it is one of the best venues for a variety of events. It is a multi-purpose arena, so whether an artist needs a stage to sing or a team needs a field to play, we ensure that La Cartuja is a great option.
La Cartuja Goes Far Beyond Just Football
Elemaki, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Even though football matches are the main kind of event you’ll see, they are far from the only thing this piece of Spain can host. It was already a venue for some of the world’s most famous artists and the stage for competitions in multiple sports, like tennis.
Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla, or La Cartuja, has already hosted concerts by Madonna, U2, AC/DC, and many other famous artists worldwide. Their music and passion reunited Sevilla and other parts of Spain. Some of these concerts became historical in the country and sold out almost immediately.
For example, the U2 concert registered a crowd of over 76,000 fans, even though the top, bottom, and middle levels combined have only 60,000 continuous seating spaces. The place was filled with fans waiting to see Bono and his band play some of their most iconic songs, making it one of the most magical moments in the arena’s history.
The Upper Level Has Unique Aspects
Granadino anti-andaluz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The arena is divided into three main sections: upper, middle, and lower sections, commonly referred to as the top, middle, and bottom of the arena. One detail many fans don’t know is that the upper row is structurally different from the rest of the stadium.
The top section has a more steep aspect of its building, and this can be felt when you sit in one of the chairs available there. Moreover, this row is divided by the hospitality boxes available all around the arena, making it the only row separated from the other two.
This aspect can’t be seen on the outside of the stadium, so it is common to see people getting surprised when visiting La Cartuja for the first time if they buy tickets for the upper row. As we mentioned, the total number of seats is approximately 60,000, making it one of the biggest stadiums in Spain and a great venue for international matches due to its high capacity.
This was one of the reasons why it became an important venue for the UEFA Cup finals between Porto and Celtic in 2003. It was one of the most important events in the arena and highlighted its potential as a football stadium. The event was crowded, and the seats were almost entirely occupied by visitors from all over the continent.
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