Bessa treat for Boavista
Friday, May 16, 2003
Article summary
The Estádio do Bessa Séc. XXI - one of the host venues for UEFA EURO 2004™ - will be inaugurated on 1 August.
Article body
Boavista FC's new Estádio do Bessa Séc. XXI - one of the host venues for UEFA EURO 2004™ - will be inaugurated on 1 August 2003.
Anniversary celebration
The date marks the Portuguese club's 100th anniversary and will see a special ceremony to mark the opening of the new 30,000-seater stadium. The building work has been carried out over the last three years, although matches have continued to be played throughout this time.
New stands
The new development, which will host three matches at the 2004 UEFA European Championship, will see new covered stands to replace their demolished predecessors and the building of a hotel and conference centre.
First match
To mark the inauguration, a four-team tournament involving SL Benfica, who will play Boavista in the opening game, Spanish side Málaga CF and one other foreign team will be staged. Boavista chairman João Loureiro has also invited special guests from Portuguese and European football to be involved in the celebrations including UEFA president Lennart Johansson and Portuguese Football Federation president Gilberto Madaíl.
