Girona has made it official this Friday that, in the end, its talisman ground at Montilivi will be the venue for its Champions League home matches in 2024/25. In a statement, the white-and-red team has confirmed that UEFA "has accepted the stadium reforms proposed by the Club, which will represent a significant financial investment, and will allow the stadium to meet the necessary requirements for the highest European competition." The club has not yet explained the specific content or cost of these renovations. Regarding the purchase of tickets, it announced that "information on the ticket purchasing process for Champions League matches in Montilivi will soon be given, taking into account the reduction in capacity due to the impossibility of using the additional stands."
The giant killing team from the north of Catalonia guaranteed a top-four finish in the Spanish league last weekend with a 4-2 victory over Barça, but the questions were: could they, and even should they, play home matches for the top European competition at their Montilivi stadium, which, even with added seating, only accommodates 14,000 fans? The answer, on both counts, turns out to be yes.
Capacity 9,000 for Champions League matches
UEFA does not allow the use of temporary stands for European competition matches. Therefore, the already tiny capacity of this modest club stadium's - 14,624 spectators - is reduced even further to 9,000 seats. Considering that a portion of the seats are reserved for engagements and visiting fans, the number of home fans who will be able to attend could be around 7,000.
The announcement comes after debate in recent days about the choice of stadium for Girona to play its matches in the continent's highest competition - both in terms of what UEFA would decide, and in terms of what was best for the club. Two possibilities on the table for the Girona club's home matches were the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc - where Barça is temporarily based - and the RCDE Espanyol stadium - both in Barcelona, over an hour's journey from the city of Girona, but with much greater capacity. There was even the possibility that the Girona team and Barça would have to share a stadium in the Champions League, as the blaugrana club had already informed UEFA that it would be playing in Montjuïc for part of the next season before making the final move to the new Camp Nou, when rebuilidng is complete.
Montilivi acollirà els partits de Champions
— Girona FC (@GironaFC) May 10, 2024
L’organisme europeu ha validat les reformes proposades pel Club que faran que l’estadi reuneixi els requisits sol·licitats.
Girona gets its wish
Yet, despite the reduction of seats for Champions matches, with the loss of income that this entails, and the cost of adaptation reforms, Girona has got what it wanted. Delfí Geli, club president, had already stated that "we are working with the possibility of the Champions League being played in Montilivi, that is what we would like". In the end, UEFA agreed to the president's request and the Champions League anthem will be played in Montilivi. Afterwards, coach Michel was celebratory: "Very happy, especially for our people" he told DAZN.
El @GironaFC podrá jugar sus partidos de Champions en Montilivi y así reacciona @Michel8Sanchez al micro de @LeyreBf 🤩
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) May 10, 2024
"Mucha alegría, sobre todo, por nuestra gente"#LALIGAenDAZN ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Mw6OJh9gBr