Benfica District revolutionizes Estádio da Luz

BENFICA DISTRICT

Benfica District is a transformative project for the Estádio da Luz area, positioning it as a national and international destination of excellence for sports and entertainment—aligning it with the most exciting developments of its kind worldwide—improving the club experience for members and fans, and creating a space for experiences 365 days a year.

The project, which is the result of gradual work that has intensified over the last 18 months, seeks to respond to the needs to modernize and enhance the Club's heritage, the sporting requirements of the various sports, the ambition to generate a renewed dynamic in the Club's universe, and the positioning of Sport Lisboa e Benfica as a global benchmark, combining the identity, history, achievements, and future paths for the institution.

Populous led all aspects of the master plan project in collaboration with the renowned Lisbon-based architectural firm Saraiva + Associados. Populous was also the original designer of the stadium, which opened in 2004.

Rui Costa, President of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, says: "This is an ambitious and strategic project, thinking of the members, the fans and the Club, which we intend to start implementing immediately, to create better conditions in the stadium, for the sports, to project Benfica even more in the country and in the world as the great sporting reference in Portugal and in time for the major international competitions that the country will be hosting. It's a Benfica-style project, which creates better conditions for competition, for experiencing the Club and for welcoming those who want to experience what it's like to be part of the Chama Imensa [Immense Flame], of Portugal's biggest club. It's a bet to make us stronger, more valuable and even more of a leader."

Tom Jones, senior director and architect of the project, says: "This master plan is an example of how mixed-use developments, anchored in unique locations, can revitalize an entire territory and become a cultural and community reference. The Estádio da Luz will not only be the home of Benfica's proud history, but a catalyst for its future, vibrant and leading by the experiences it welcomes and provides for Benfica District members, fans and visitors, both Portuguese and foreign."

Jorge Betancor, director of Populous, who leads the company's operations in Portugal, considers that: "The Estádio da Luz is one of the most iconic stadiums in the world and home to Benfica's legions of passionate fans. This exciting project will modernize the stadium and the surrounding area, introducing new amenities throughout the master plan, which include a new multipurpose arena, sports pavilions and a fans' plaza, benefiting both fans on match days and the community all year round. It will provide a new experience for fans and help the club increase revenue, setting a new benchmark in Europe as Portugal prepares for the 2030 World Cup."

The project will be presented at the Estádio da Luz this Tuesday, July 22, at 6 pm.

A WORLD-CLASS TERRITORY FOR SPORT, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT

The project will modernize the stadium's facilities and reinforce the offer of venues, amenities and public spaces in the surrounding area, generating a valuable civic asset for the Benfica universe and supporting the Club's long-term financial sustainability.

The Benfica District project includes:

• A multipurpose pavilion with a capacity for 10,000 people, capable of hosting concerts, cultural events, eSports and major sporting events in a wide variety of indoor sports;

• Two state-of-the-art indoor sports halls, with capacity for 2,500 and 1,500 seats respectively, adaptable for basketball, volleyball, handball, roller field hockey, futsal, boxing and much more, which will replace the current halls and swimming pool;

• A new community swimming pool (25x25 m) with modern amenities, offering a recreational resource for fans and residents alike;

• A new theater and event space with capacity for 500 people;

• An outdoor football pitch on the terrace and a running track, creating immersive training and fitness environments in the heart of Lisbon;

• Commercial, hotel and residential facilities.

FOCUS ON ENHANCING AND IMPROVING EXPERIENCES FOR MEMBERS AND FANS

Benfiquistas will be able to enjoy a new space for socializing before and after matches, in the form of a 100m x 40m square for members and fans in front of the stadium's main façade, inspired by Lisbon's famous civic squares, such as Rossio Square.

With capacity for more than 10,000 members and fans, the square will have a DJ booth and an event space, and will be surrounded by catering establishments, stores and restaurants with terraces, making it a year-round destination for the whole city.

Members and fans will also benefit from a series of improvements throughout the campus, including terraces, giant screens and improved bridges to facilitate circulation and accessibility.

The statue of Eusébio, an icon of the club, will be carefully moved to the main entrance of the square, standing out against the backdrop of the stadium's façade, to welcome members and fans as they arrive.

MODERNIZATION OF ESTÁDIO DA LUZ

The project will also renovate and revitalize the stadium itself. A new façade - fluid and dynamic in its architecture - redefines its form through a contemporary perspective, moderating light and heat to shade the atriums and improve comfort for members and fans, while preserving the iconic curved beams of the roof.

The façade features integrated LED lighting, which weaves a dynamic digital layer throughout the structure, illuminating the architecture on match days. It transforms the stadium into a beacon for supporters and an immersive backdrop for the fans' square. This programmable LED “skin” also allows the stadium to easily adapt to a wide variety of events, from soccer matches to concerts.

In addition, a new fourth level will be added to the infrastructure, outside the stands, providing 6800 m² of mixed-use space that includes the possibility of offices, a premium hospitality offer with greater capacity and commercial facilities. This extension is part of a wider strategy to activate the stadium beyond match days and integrate it more deeply into Lisbon's urban life.

This ambition is in line with the successive improvements that have been made to the Sport Lisboa e Benfica stadium over the course of this mandate. The first phase of increasing the capacity to 70,000 has already been completed, and the Cathedral now has 68,100 seats, reinforcing its status as the largest and most imposing stadium in the country.

An extension that maintains all the predicates of safety and comfort for fans, and which followed the modernization of the Cathedral's interior image that debuted in 2023, with better lighting and sound, LED in the rings and new state-of-the-art giant screens capable of creating a unique and breathtaking atmosphere.

SUSTAINABILITY AND LEGACY

The Benfica District project advocates sustainable design principles, integrating photovoltaic panels on the roof of the arena, “green” roofs, rainwater harvesting and landscaping strategies that support ecological resilience.

The development is designed not only to improve the match day experience, but also to provide long-term social and environmental benefits to the Lisbon community.