The observation is not recent. Our country lacks modern and functional football stadiums. In 50 years, only two Belgian clubs have built a new enclosure. This is the case of RAAL La Louvière.
A few meters from the Tivoli stadium inaugurated in 1972, work on the new RAAL La Louvière stadium continues. The enclosure will have a synthetic pitch and will host matches and training for the men's and women's teams. The inauguration is scheduled for July 2025 and Salvatore Curaba, the president of the club, has a little dream in mind.
“With a little luck, we might already be in D1A next year. It would be great to inaugurate the stadium in division 1“, he declares. Indeed, RAAL La Louvière has only just made its return to professional football and for the moment occupies a more than encouraging second place in the Challenger Pro League (the Wolves were even in the lead , with Zulte Waregem, until the bankruptcy of Deinze). Next season, 'the pack' will be able to play in a brand new den with 8,000 places. The project will cost the club 16 million euros. equity.
“Many clubs always focus on the athlete before focusing on the organization and the infrastructure. We do not take this approach because I consider that the organization is essential to succeed and the infrastructures as well.“, justifies Salvatore Curaba.
Build or renovate?
If RAAL La Louvière has decided to build a new stadium, others prefer to renovate. In 2023, the King Baudouin Stadium, for example, will have a new athletics track, a year after the installation of 50,000 new seats. In 2024, the locker rooms and the press room were given a refresh. Consequence of these new investments: the venue has never hosted so many events. However, its operation remains loss-making.
“It is never profitable financially, but it is extremely profitable for the image of Brussels and for the Horeca sector all around, in the city. explains Benoit Hellings, former sports alderman in the city of Brussels.
The next expected renovations: replacing the lighting and installing new roofs over the stands.
Proof of Belgian reluctance in terms of sports infrastructure, in 50 years our country has seen barely two new stadiums built.
New RAAL stadiums La Louvière King Baudouin stadium
