Ibiza’s mayor has publicly confirmed plans to upgrade the municipal stadium for the first time, while UD Ibiza is proposing to finance a new ground in exchange for the right to operate it for several decades.
The future of Ibiza’s Can Misses stadium is beginning to take shape. On Wednesday, during the municipal State of the Municipality debate, Ibiza mayor Rafael Triguero unexpectedly announced that the town council would soon present a project to expand and redevelop its municipal sports facilities.
His remarks marked the first public reference by the mayor to a proposal that has been taking shape behind closed doors for months, with UD Ibiza and the town council in negotiations over the stadium’s future.
“We will soon present plans for the expansion and redevelopment of the municipal Can Misses stadium and athletics track, the expansion and improvement of two of the city’s sports centres, and the construction of a new indoor facility,” Triguero said.
The announcement comes as UD Ibiza has spent several months working on one of its most ambitious projects: demolishing the existing Can Misses stadium and replacing it with a completely new venue, designed to meet the club’s needs while also becoming a significant source of revenue.
The club’s proposal would see it cover the cost of constructing the new stadium, sparing the town council the upfront investment, in exchange for the right to operate the facilities and land for several decades. Agreements lasting up to 50 years have been discussed, alongside an alternative arrangement structured as 2+2+40 years.
Negotiations remain ongoing, with both the town council and the club represented by their own negotiating teams as they work towards a possible agreement.
A stadium designed to operate 365 days a year
UD Ibiza’s ambitions go well beyond building a football ground. The club wants the new Can Misses to be a venue with activity throughout the year, not just on matchdays when the team plays at home.
The plans envisage restaurants, shops and other commercial spaces designed to attract regular visitors and diversify the club’s revenue streams. Concerts and other events are also being considered, potentially turning the stadium into a meeting point for both residents and tourists.
One of the most eye-catching ideas is a swimming pool on top of the stadium, alongside VIP areas where guests could watch matches. The concept is intended to offer a different kind of experience while allowing the club to generate commercial income beyond football.
UD Ibiza already has a rendering showing what the future venue could look like. However, construction remains dependent on the outcome of negotiations with the town council.
Could the new stadium help Ibiza’s World Cup ambitions?
The proposed transformation of Can Misses is also linked to another of the island’s sporting ambitions: securing a role as a satellite venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Ibiza hopes to use the tournament as an opportunity to raise its profile on the international football stage and potentially host a friendly match. To pursue that ambition, the island would need a stadium meeting FIFA’s requirements, meaning the facility would have to be completed before 2030.
For now, Triguero has not provided a timetable or detailed specifications for the announced redevelopment. It also remains unclear whether the town council’s plans will ultimately lead to the entirely new stadium UD Ibiza wants to build.
What is clear, however, is that the future of Can Misses is now firmly on the town council’s agenda. After months of discussions away from the public eye, the mayor’s announcement marks the first public step towards a transformation that could substantially reshape the stadium in the coming years.
