There is no doubt that Seville is one of the most football-centric cities in Europe. This is due to the passion of its fans, the prestige of its clubs (Sevilla FC and Real Betis Balompié), and the significance of the events it hosts; in recent years, it has become a regular venue for the Copa del Rey finals, the Spanish Super Cup, and even served as a host city for the European Championship. Therefore, in this post, we propose a tour of Seville’s football stadiums, which you can enjoy whether you are visiting from other regions of Spain or from abroad. If you love the sport, you are sure to enjoy it!
The two essential stops on the Seville football stadium tour
On a football stadium tour in Seville, there used to be two main stops, but we must now add a third, as we shall see. One of these essential stops is the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, home of Sevilla FC. With a capacity for over 43,000 spectators, it was inaugurated in 1958, though its modernized exterior dates back to 2015. It was a venue for the 1982 World Cup, as well as the 1986 European Cup final, where FC Barcelona lost on penalties to Steaua Bucharest.
The other quintessential Sevillian stadium is the Benito Villamarín, which is even older: it was inaugurated in 1929 within the context of that year’s Ibero-American Exposition, in the neighborhood from which it initially took its name, Heliópolis. It has undergone several renovations, the most significant being at the beginning of the 21st century, carried out in several phases. Currently, all its tiers are ‘closed,’ offering a capacity of approximately 60,000 spectators. It was also a venue for the 1982 World Cup, as well as various Copa del Rey finals.
If you are planning to take this tour of Seville’s football stadiums, you will likely want to visit their interiors. In both cases, the clubs have arranged their own specific routes through the stadium and museum. In the first instance, the so-called Sevilla FC Stadium Tour takes visitors to locations such as the Presidential Box, the press room, the dressing room, the pitch, the dugouts, and the trophy room, where the six UEFA Cups recently won by the club are prominently displayed.
In the case of the Betis Tour Experience, similar spaces are included along with a room known as the ‘Hall of Fame,’ a space featuring images of some of the greatest players in the club’s history.
La Cartuja, the third stop on the tour
Finally, a third stop should be added to this Seville football stadium tour: La Cartuja, with a capacity for approximately 60,000 spectators. Built on the grounds that hosted Expo ’92 and with an eye toward the 1999 World Athletics Championships, this multi-purpose stadium is also used for major concerts and other sporting events. Lately, it has been used for top-tier national and international football matches, such as the Copa del Rey finals (2021) or National Team matches, including a memorable 6-0 victory against Germany.
This stadium, however, has not established a ‘tour’ like the previous ones, although its facilities can be rented for corporate and other types of events. Therefore, if you are considering organizing a tour here, whether for private or business purposes, you may contact Andalucía Exclusiva to arrange it.
