Watch: The Malta Premier League to build a new stadium at Marsa, to be completed by 2030
The Malta Premier League announced plans to build their own football stadium, which will not only be used to host matches from Malta’s top championship but also will serve as the home of the body representing top-tier clubs.
Project to also include new facilities for local rugby and baseball
The Malta Premier League announced plans to build their own football stadium, which will not only be used to host matches from Malta’s top championship but also will serve as the home of the body representing top-tier clubs.
The project, announced on Monday, will also include a training pitch, a rugby pitch, and baseball facilities.
The UEFA Level 3 stadium will have a 5,000-person capacity and be eligible to host matches up to the league phase of UEFA competitions.
The project, announced on Monday, will also include a training pitch, a rugby pitch, and baseball facilities.
Works on the stadium are expected to begin in 2027, with a target completion date of 2030. A planning application for the project will be submitted “in the coming hours,” Malta Premier League chairman Joseph Muscat said.
Dr Muscat said that the main aim of the project was to improve the matchday experience for football lovers.
“We are looking to provide a wholesome match day experience not just to the football fans but also to their whole family,” Dr Muscat said.
“Apart from the home and away stands, we will introduce the concept of having a family stand. This will be equipped with a special surface on which children can play and enjoy their time at the stadium in a safe environment.
“The plan is that one can come to the stadium hours before kick-off time and can enjoy their time before and after the match.
“This is not a commercialised project, which means that there will be no shopping malls built, or similar buildings included in it.”
The Malta Premier League chairman said that the pitch will have a top-quality synthetic pitch, similar to that owned by Norwegian champions Bodo-Glimt.
“The ground will have a synthetic pitch,” Dr Muscat said.
“The decision to go for this is that we need to maximise the use of the venue as much as possible. We will be having a UEFA consultant who will help us install a top-level surface, similar to what is used by Norwegian side Bodo-Glimt.
“Such a surface will enable us to host matches even when there is bad weather, and can help us host many matches without the fear of suffering infrastructural damage. The plan is to host back-to-back matches as well as give the opportunity to host matches from lower divisions.
“The stadium will also include training facilities and warm-up pitches. This will be a UEFA Level 3 stadium, with a 5,000 capacity, and will qualify to host matches from the League Phase of UEFA club competitions.”
Dr Muscat said that the stadium will be a multi-event venue with the aim of hosting music concerts and other events.
The venue of the proposed project is currently hosting rugby matches and Dr Muscat said that they have entered a collaboration agreement with the Malta Rugby Football Union.
“The title of the land on which our stadium is owned by the Malta Rugby Football Union and it will remain like that,” Dr Muscat said.
“As part of the agreement, we will build rugby facilities for them and a club house. The plan is to start this part of the project as a sign of our commitment to this agreement. Added to that, we will also host matches from the baseball competitions in our facilities.”
Dr Muscat said that the Malta Premier League stadium is being done with the full backing of the Malta Football Association and is likely to facilitate the governing body’s project of restructuring the national stadium.
The Malta Premier League chairman made it clear that once the stadium is completed not all top-flight matches will be played there, but some games will still be staged at the Tony Bezzina Stadium and the National Stadium.
“We are hopeful to submit our application to the Planning Authority later today, and hopefully we will be able to start construction works by January 2027.”
On his part, Minister for Home Affairs Byron Camilleri announced that the foreign investors who will be part of the project will be considered for the award of Maltese Citizenship on Merit.
“There have been many instances where a citizenship on merit was used in sport,” Camilleri said.
“Thanks to the law amendments made last year, we are considering that those who provide major financial support to the project, from which all Maltese sports will benefit, will be allowed to apply for Maltese citizenship on merit,
“We will put into place a very strong due diligence exercise, which sometimes has been criticised that it was too strict, for every application.
“And a final decision will be taken after not only a significant contribution by the prospective candidate has been made, but also when the strict due diligence exercise is completed.”
On his part, Sports Minister Clifton Grima said it has been one of the government’s prioritise major investments in sports infrastructure.
“Our country today enjoys a great reputation in hosting major international events in Malta, and the legacy they left behind, particularly new sporting facilities,” Dr Grima said.
“This is a concrete plan that has a clear vision of when it will start and when it will be completed. More importantly, this project will provide us with a top sporting facility that will help us strengthen our sports vision and further increase the importance of our clubs in our community and provide a better future for young sportsmen.”
