Mestalla Noisiest Stadium in Europe
By: Cesar | July 18th, 2008
While I could write about the Samuel Eto’o transfer rumors (yawn) or the possibility of Luis Aragones replacing Unai Emery as head coach (whatever …), I thought this was infinitely more interesting …
According to Setanta Sports, Valencia’s Mestalla is Europe’s noisiest stadium.
Here’s what they have to say:
1. Mestalla, Valencia
The Mestalla is far from the biggest ground in Spain with a capacity of only 55,000, but its steeply banked terraces rise out the ground like sheer rock faces. The masses packed into Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou struggle to generate a fraction of the intensity seen at Valencia.
Not bad, eh? (Thanks to Dan of Che-UK for the info.)
Now I haven’t been to a match at the Mestalla in a few seasons. I was able to make my way into the ground during my recent summer journey, wandering the stands and finding a litter of kittens living behind the dugout (no doubt planted by Ronald Koeman. One of them was an orange tabby).
But I can attest to Mestalla being loud. It’s a cauldron of atmosphere, especially when the home team’s doing good … or when the opposition is Real Madrid.
If you can make it to Valencia this season, make sure to take a trip to the Mestalla and catch a game.
Remember, there are only 19 matches left at Valencia’s legendary ground … better get there quick!!
As for the new stadium, Nou Mestalla? Check out how work’s going at this website. It’s due to be completed in July 2009.
Category: Team News
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“(Thanks to Dan of Che-UK for the info.)”
I wonder whether he is the guy who is active in La Liga community on orkut.he is also from UK and a die hard fan of valencia.
Posted from
United Kingdom
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I reckon Nou Mestalla wont be that noisy ‘cos there is an athletic track between the crowd and the pitch.But the capacity will increase by 20,000.So its good for the club revenue wise.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
I thought the new stadium wouldn’t have the athletic track around. I remember there was debate about this when they first conceived the plan and decided they didn’t want to track. To make it a stadium for football like The Mestalla Noisiest Stadium in Europe.
Posted from
Thailand -
Haven’t checked the blog for a while, always suspected we make the most noise in Spain at the least, sometimes when were losing it goes pretty quiet. Question time Juan Sanchez has been fired right? But has he retained a position within the club? Has the new president improved the financial situation because it seems are big players are not being touted around. Next season i’ll at least be going to the Mestalla 3 times have to experience it again before it closes its doors.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Hi Conor, There is some doubt about more finance as it is said today that Soler is objecting to more Capital coming in, which apparently means some control being being lost (probably his).It is confirmed that Miguel Fernandez will be the Marketing Manager, he did the same job for Real Madrid in the Perez days…….Adios
Posted from
Spain -
year right.i like the atmosphere at the mestalla but a third division game in england makes more noise.ive been to nearly all the european games there in the last five years and most against puta madrid and barca.its often as quiet as a cemetry. hungry,poland,esst germany,scotland,croatia,serbia……the atmosphere is rabid compered to spain.sorry but dont agree.
Posted from
Spain -
sorry how could i forget wales,a small third world country where they get quite emotional about their football.
Posted from
Spain -
First off great news. Joaquin has been told he is staying. So we are keepign what in my opinion are our greatest assets. Villa Silva Joaquin .
I personally really think Joaquin is a star winger.. now we just start playign as a team and we should have a great turn around. I have faith in our new coach.
As for the comments about Morientes not being a good striker.. im sorry but your dead wrong. he has score 25 goals in 41 Games. Thats pretty solid. 27 out of 47 for spain. I think his tsyle perfectly compliments Villa. This isnt a Fifa game it doesnt go by stats.. it goes by style and tactics. will he score more than Villa no never thats not his place in the team his place is to be the counter balance to Villa to throw off teh defence so they cant two man Villa in the centre. you see if you ahve atall man beside a finese player your 2 centre backs have to keep seperate.. the wide defender cant come in either because that opens up teh gap for our winger.. Joaquin. Frankly this Morientes Villa Joaquin with Vicente on teh other side is super deadly.. Silva in teh centre to supply through is a vicious combo. Our main weak spot is in teh back.. we let the opposition through to easily. We should play Marchena and Alex in the centre. Then Albiol and Del Horno on the flanks.. The final central mid should float between baraja and Albelda and Maduro.
Posted from
Canada -
Hey Cesar..
i’ve been with the Che-Uk for like 7 years now.. hehe though im not anyway near UK.. i’m from Kuwait..
about the Mestalla.. i didn’t visit it yet… i really really hope to go give this old place a visit in January or February before it’s gone… fingers crossed to that…
you keep posting man, i love this blog!
=)
Amunt!Posted from
United Kingdom -
hmm never thought there are valencia fans in kuwait! well tht makes us 2 fans in kuwait
well im kuwaiti but study abroad!Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
Ali…
i’m a valencia fan to death.. ! haha.. and i tell you what, i know 3 valencia fans who are Kuwaitis :p
and i see some people wondering around wearing villa’s shirt from time to time.. ! hah!
click on my name and you will see my email,, add me if you want… or whoever wants,, will be an honor to chat with valencianistas.. !
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Yeh I agree with you javier de roque about the complimentary styles morientes and villa impose into each other. Although the way you mentioned the tactics they employ is sort of different from maybe two seasons ago. First of all back then, morientes did score more than villa. Interestingly, villa played behind morientes, with the latter being the main person to score whilst the former teh guy thats suppose to create chaos and split open the defence; almost like a second striker. But this changed since villa has become a world class phenom and has then been moved to a center forward position and with morientes being injured last season.
Posted from
Philippines -
id be honoured to add you but i keep on clicking on you name and nothing…well add me on (like_a_king@live.com)
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
I wish I could wake up in September… I just read that Villa, Silva, and Joaquin are up for sale again….. I know marca is NOT a reliable source but goal.com reported the same…. I guess is not a good day to be a Valencia fan…….
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Probably slow news day. They’ve got to find something. C.Ronaldo saga is getting old.
Goal probably translated the news form Marca. Both ran the story of Valencia wanting Luis Aragones in place of Unai. I’m not surprised they the only 2 with this rubbish again.
Posted from
Thailand -
Many thanks Almendras, i really think that we will have a strong season if we chop away some of the dead wood, i mean squad players, Zigic is being linked with Aston Villa hope he goes, a good player not for us though. Does anyone know if we still own Tavano???? Bob i do agree that the Mestalla isn’t that loud when were losing but some premier grounds are not that loud, i used to go to Upton park alot and West ham have a fearsome rep, but when they are up againest it very quiet. Lower division teams usually make the most noise they are less reserved. The fans that make the most noise must be Fenerbache or Galatasery. The best atmosphere at the Mestalla was when we played arsenal and even when Henry banged in an equaliser the fans still made the atmosphere as electric as possible urging the team onto the eventual 2-1 win.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
ive never been to a premiership ground but ive been to them all with millwall when it was the first division proper.been to upton park with millwall and the atmosfhere was ” pure hatred “|no other way to explain it.mestalla has a nice friendly atmosphere i just dont think its very loud.perhaps the pasion in the uk comes from the utter hatred we have of our rivals.
Posted from
Spain -
Just read they are up for sale again. I hope its not true. If you seriously whats wrong with our management.. Can they not keep a promise. This is the way to lose fans and not become a top club. Nobody will follow a club that lies to its fans and its players constantly.
But is money really teh issue. Because Zigic should pull in at least 8 million. Fernades a few million. Albelda at least a few there too. And if we ditched:
Arizmendi
Reguiero
Hugo Viana
Helguera
Vicente
Edu
ButelleIm suer that wages plus transfer fees and we could make up the money we are missing.
Posted from
Canada -
Another idea i was kicking around was why not presell more season tickets.. with an expanded stadium they could hold a paid lottery to win a chance to buy season tickets. not only would that fill the coffers.. and since its impossible to buy season tickets they would sell out on teh lottery.. and at teh same time theyw ill have season tickets presold. before teh staium is even open.. that would help alleviate teh building costs. Not to mention they still havethe old stadium in the heart of downtown.. that real estate hasnt been sold yet so the debt really is just inflated due to that fact. The team needs a good money manager. I personally just think Soler is trying to cash in to raise the value of his stock before selling. Remember this guy is a Multi millionaire ass that only cares about himself and money.. so suddenly out of nowhere we are in debt we cant handle… right before he is sellign shares.. and yet share prices are going up not down.. Something strange is afoot. But hey if he reduces debt by 40 million or so.. then tada value up per share and more cash in his pocket when he sells off.
I dont trust that penguin.
Posted from
Canada -
its soler yet again.he just cant let go.because he still has more shares than anybody he is undermining juan vilalonga after only a week.what chance do we have with this fat spoilt brat ruining our club
Posted from
Spain -
This makes me want to really save up some money and go to the Mestalla at least once before we change to Nou Mestalla. Although im unfortunate enough not able to go to Mestalla yet, ive been fortunate enough to saw one away CL match with fellow Valencia fans and can attest to how noisy and amazing they were. So I can imagine how even more amazing and noisy it would be to be surrounded with a stadium full of Valencia fans!!
Sorry to be a little girlish and out of topic but I would love to see the pictures of the kittens Cesar (if you took any). I have an obsession with cats :-p
Posted from
United Kingdom -
I hope youre right Jan, I can only hope.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Hey Ali,
Im a Valencia Fan and although Im a Nigerian,I know 3 different Kuweit Valencianistas who used to be a member of the Armada Naranja before the forum host was shut down.
I still keep contact with one of them thoughPosted from
United Kingdom -
Woww!I didn’ know Mestalla was Europe’s noisiest stadium…:-)I’ll miss our old Mestalla…!
Posted from
United Kingdom -
whau build a new stadium when they have a good one.just waste of money
Posted from
United Kingdom
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