Curtain raised on new stadium

(JB) Plans for a new national 10,000-seater stadium faced opposition this week, when it emerged the venue would be built in Livange.

On the surface the stadium structure, which is aimed at replacing the 8,000-seater stade Josy Barthel, in route d'Arlon, is striking.

A gently curved building on stilts, it is designed to host national and international football matches, with facilities conforming to UEFA and FIFA regulations.

The only catch however, appears to be the choice of location, which some have complained is along an already saturated road, which will be hard to reach for those without a car.

Presenting the master plan at a meeting in Roeser, sports minister Romain Schneider defended the choice of site, saying it was the only place that met the criteria.

He said: “Only the Livange site is compatible with all the criteria required for this project. We attach great importance to making the stadium accessible and the nearby A3 motorway and railway line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg will help with that.”

Mr Schneider explained that to support the scheme, new transport measures would be taken to create a new bus stop and train station in Livange, construct cycle paths and enlarge the A3 with additional lanes.

In addition a car park with up to 4,500 spaces would be constructed on the site.

The area earmarked for the development is prone to flooding. Architects have drawn up plans for a stadium on stilts to resolve this issue.

While the project ruffled some feathers, developers pointed out that it is likely to create upward of 1,500 jobs, an incentive which is expected to calm any local protest from the commune of Roeser.