Upgrade work starts at Estádio do Dragão

Image: FC Porto on Facebook

Portuguese Primeira Liga club FC Porto has kicked off renovation work at its Estádio do Dragão.

Noticias Au Minuto said the work will be carried out during the 2025/26 and 2026/27 pre-seasons and, in partnership with Ithaka, has defined three areas it will concentrate on from infrastructure to technologies and services.

In the first phase of the work, which has been ongoing for a few weeks, the hospitality boxes are being modernised along with the common areas of the stands – namely the bars and restrooms.

In the second phase, scheduled for next summer, the creation of new exclusive hospitality areas, with greater comfort and a premium service, will completely transform the hospitality and VIP services on offer.

Porto will also make upgrades to the kitchens and stadium lighting services, as well as replacing some seats.

FC Porto, or simply Porto, is a Portuguese professional sports club based in Porto, Portugal. It is best known for its professional football team playing in the Primeira Liga, the top-flight of Portuguese football.

The Estádio do Dragão is an all-seater football stadium in Porto, Portugal, and the home ground of FC Porto since 2003. It has a seating capacity of 50,033, making it the third largest football stadium in Portugal.

The club said in a statement, “Inaugurated on November 16, 2003, Estádio do Dragão remains an architectural reference among sports venues around the world, but it had never undergone renovations. The infrastructure has suffered natural wear and tear and technology has advanced significantly, but the home of all Porto fans has remained intact for almost 22 years.

“That is about to change. Because one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world of football must have spaces and equipment at the level required. The blue and white members and fans will be able to enjoy more and better experiences starting next season.”

The work has been able to go ahead after a commercial partnership was established with Ithaka.

The deal covers operating revenues and costs associated with ticketing, corporate hospitality, naming rights and other sponsorship contracts associated with the stadium, the Museum, visits and the organization of non-sporting events.

It also covers other opportunities for generating revenue, present or future, related to Dragão – FC Porto has defined three areas of intervention: infrastructure, technology and services.

The investment goes beyond the renovation of infrastructure and aims to improve the entire experience for Porto fans, who in 2025/26 will have access to a ticket sales platform that lives up to the Club’s reputation, a renewed food & beverage (F&B) model and an improved experience inside the stadium thanks to the remodeling of the boxes, common areas and hospitality.

Carried out during the 2025/26 and 2026/27 pre-seasons, so that the impact on the sports season is minimal, the works will provide the venue with the necessary requirements to host events of the size of the 2030 World Cup, as well as concerts by music stars that attract crowds of fans.

As for support infrastructure, the change in the F&B model has led to the construction of a central kitchen where the food served at Estádio do Dragão can now be produced, unlike what was happening until now, and which will significantly reduce the time it takes to replenish products.

Also in this context, the creation of autonomous bars with AiFi is planned – a technology that allows fans to shop without queuing to order or pay.

In order to meet UEFA’s minimum requirements and provide Dragão with lighting capable of hosting all types of events, a new lighting system will be implemented in two phases.

In addition, the Club has started a market consultation process to replace the roof, a major investment that will be required over time.

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