“The match begins” – the phrase chosen by the mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannisto mark the first significant step at project level for the construction of a new football stadium in Botanical and opportunities for amateur Panathinaicas part of her plan Double redevelopment Botaniko and Leoforos. Against the backdrop of bulldozers clearing the site, representatives of the government, the municipality of Athens and Panathinaikos marked the beginning of the preparatory work, with which this large-scale project begins to enter the implementation phase. All journeys start with the first step, and yesterday this step was taken with all solemnity and in the presence of the representatives of the government (Ministers Giorgos Gerapetritis, Adonis Georgiadis, Thodoros Skylakakis), Mr. Bakoyannis, the President of PAE Panathinaikos Yiannis Alafuzu and the President of Erasitechnis, Takis Malakatė .

“The biggest dream of Panathinaikos fans will come true. The project starts today, so in three years Panathinaikos will have the best project in Greece. The “Double Renewal” will be the largest urban renewal project undertaken in Athens in a century. The Athenians, the Greeks will love the new area, which today is completely degraded, with a huge modernization of the center of Athens and Alexander Avenue,” Mr. Georgiadisfrom herapetritis add that “this is one of the largest urban regeneration projects in all of Europe.”

For his part, Mr. Alathousos He emphasized: “Botanikos is a huge project for Athens and for Panathinaikos, which will acquire a modern stadium, which I consider the best in Greece. This year we will complete six stadiums in Koropi and become the team with the best infrastructure in Greece.” Mr. Malakates added that “this is a historic day that the people of Panathinaikos have been looking forward to. We move from words to actions. We are talking about preliminary works, which are the lobby for the completion of the stadium and amateur facilities.”

Earthworks are expected to start next quarter, in the height of summer, with the completion of the stadium due in three years, and it will be commissioned in 2026–2027. Only when the new stadium with a capacity of about 40,000 seats is completed on a turnkey basis will demolition of the historic site begin. “Apostle Nikolaides”, on Alexandras Avenue, which until then will be used as usual. The construction of Panathinaikos amateur facilities is planned to be completed a year earlier, in the summer of 2025. At the same time, related infrastructure projects will also be launched, which will radically change the face of the degraded territory. in the center of Athens.