A major breakthrough for UD Ibiza’s future at Can Misses. The football club and Ibiza Town Hall have reached a preliminary agreement on the construction of a new stadium that could transform the future of the club. According to a report by SER Ibiza on Thursday, both parties have all but finalised a deal that would allow the club to operate the venue for at least 40 years, with the possibility of extending the agreement to 50 years to help recover an investment worth several tens of millions of euros.
The project being developed by the club, chaired by Amadeo Salvo, is an ambitious one. UD Ibiza intends to fund the entire construction of the new Can Misses stadium, which would have a capacity of around 12,000 spectators and meet the requirements for hosting professional football matches. One of the club’s main ambitions is to return to Spain’s Segunda División.
But the plans go further. Ibiza also hopes to become one of the host venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly organised by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. To make that possible, the island would need a stadium meeting international standards. Such facilities could also open the door to hosting international friendly matches, subject to the necessary approvals.
Months of negotiations over the stadium agreement
The preliminary deal follows months of discussions between technical teams from Ibiza Town Hall and UD Ibiza, who have been working discreetly to find a way to make one of the club’s major ambitions a reality.
The process has not been straightforward. Both sides have had to overcome a number of planning and legal obstacles, particularly regarding how to structure an agreement lasting several decades for a stadium owned by the local authority.
Two options were initially considered: directly awarding the operating rights to UD Ibiza or granting an administrative concession through a public tender.
According to journalist Joan Tur on SER, the preferred route is a direct award to the club, which is intended to speed up the administrative process and shorten the time needed to sign the agreement.
However, one important issue remains unresolved: the annual fee UD Ibiza will pay the Town Hall to operate the stadium. This charge will be linked to the annual financial settlement, with an independent consultancy appointed to determine the amount. It is one of the final outstanding details before the agreement can be formally signed.
A new stadium while UD Ibiza continues playing at Can Misses
Once the agreement is signed, the next step will be to launch a major construction project that will completely transform the existing Can Misses ground.
The intention is for UD Ibiza to continue playing its home matches at the stadium throughout the construction work, meaning the redevelopment would be carried out in stages.
During the negotiations, the possibility of building a temporary stadium in Sant Antoni was also considered. This facility could subsequently have been made available for public use. However, that option now appears to have been ruled out.
Instead, the club is expected to follow a model used at other professional football grounds, where major redevelopment work has been completed in phases without permanently relocating the first team.
The plan is to retain the current site while building a much more modern stadium, featuring a covered stand, an expanded main stand and significantly improved facilities.
A stadium designed to generate activity all year round
UD Ibiza’s ambitions go well beyond building a football ground. Amadeo Salvo’s project aims to turn Can Misses into a venue capable of generating revenue throughout the year, rather than relying solely on the club’s home fixtures.
Plans include a substantial food and hospitality offer, with restaurants, retail outlets and a small shopping centre designed to attract visitors even when no football matches are taking place. The possibility of creating accommodation for athletes is also being considered.
Another key element is the potential to turn the stadium into a venue for concerts and other live events, making use of its infrastructure for activities beyond sport.
Among the most eye-catching ideas under consideration is an infinity pool on the upper level of the stadium, where fans could watch matches. The proposal would be complemented by new VIP areas, offering a very different experience from that of a conventional football ground.
The redevelopment would also extend to the club’s sporting facilities, with renovated changing rooms, an upgraded gym and the addition of spa areas.
The overall design is intended to incorporate sustainability and energy-efficiency measures. The project could still change, however, and no final design has been confirmed. UD Ibiza already has a computer-generated rendering showing what the future Can Misses might look like.
Stadium agreement expected after 29 November
The main question now is when the agreement will be formally signed, allowing the project to move forward.
According to SER, the intention is to finalise the deal before the end of the current municipal term, although several technical issues still need to be resolved.
However, as Diario de Ibiza has been able to confirm, the agreement will not be signed before the general election scheduled for 29 November. This means that the parties will have to wait until at least after that date before the deal can become official.
UD Ibiza and Ibiza Town Hall have therefore taken an important step towards transforming Can Misses. Several administrative procedures still need to be completed before construction can begin on a project that could reshape both the stadium and the club’s long-term financial future.
