Girona FC Assumes All Stadium Costs: 50-Year Concession Deal Forces Club to Fund All Upgrades, Maintenance-While City Hall Stands By

Girona FC maintains full operational and financial responsibility for the Estadi de Montilivi under the terms of a 50-year concession agreement with the Girona City Council, finalized in 2018. The contract stipulates that the club bears the entirety of the economic risk for infrastructure improvements, facility maintenance, and operational overhead, effectively positioning the club as the sole manager of the venue’s development without municipal financial support.

The Financial Framework of the Montilivi Concession

The 2018 administrative agreement established a clear division of labor regarding the home ground of Girona FC. According to the terms of the concession, all capital improvements—including stadium expansions, structural renovations, and facility upgrades—are undertaken exclusively at the club’s “risk and venture.” This legal language ensures that the municipal government of Girona is shielded from the financial volatility associated with professional football infrastructure.

The document clarifies that the club is responsible for financing every aspect of the stadium’s upkeep. This includes not only the initial construction costs for modernization projects but also the ongoing, long-term maintenance of the assets. The City Council explicitly stated in the mandate that it does not participate in the funding or the subsequent maintenance of the facility, ensuring that taxpayer funds remain insulated from the club’s private commercial operations.

Operational Responsibilities and Club Autonomy

Beyond the financial burden, the concession requires Girona FC to provide all necessary personnel, materials, and equipment to ensure the stadium functions according to the standards of professional competition. This includes meeting the stringent requirements set by La Liga regarding broadcasting facilities, safety protocols, and spectator amenities.

For the club, this arrangement provides a degree of autonomy that is increasingly rare in European football, where many stadiums remain under direct municipal ownership with shared maintenance responsibilities. By assuming the role of the primary concessionaire, Girona FC can dictate the pace of stadium development, such as the temporary stands installed in recent years to accommodate increased capacity during their rise to European competition. However, this autonomy comes with the obligation to maintain the property to the standards dictated by the original 2018 agreement.

Infrastructure and the Growth of the Club

The 50-year term of the agreement offers the club the stability needed for long-term planning. Since the agreement was signed, the club has navigated the complexities of competing in Spain’s top flight, the Primera División. The ability to control the stadium environment has been a factor in the club’s ability to host international visitors and manage a modern match-day experience that aligns with the requirements of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and UEFA.

While the club holds the operational keys, the land remains a public asset under the stewardship of the city. The concession functions as a long-term lease that grants the club the right to exploit the facility commercially, provided they adhere to the maintenance and safety obligations outlined in the administrative contract. This model reflects a shift in how mid-sized clubs in Spain manage their primary assets, moving away from reliance on local government budgets toward a self-sustaining, private-sector management model.

What This Means for Match-Day Logistics

For fans and stakeholders, the current structure means that any changes to the stadium—such as the recent modular expansions or internal upgrades—are decisions made internally by the club’s board. Unlike clubs that must wait for municipal budget approval for stadium improvements, Girona FC can move at the speed of its own commercial strategy, provided it meets the safety and regulatory standards defined in the 2018 agreement.

The next confirmed checkpoint for the club involves the ongoing administrative reporting required to ensure the facility remains compliant with the evolving standards of professional football. As the club continues to participate in domestic and international fixtures, the focus remains on balancing the high costs of stadium maintenance with the revenue generated by its increased profile in European football. Fans looking for the latest updates on club infrastructure projects can monitor official announcements from the club’s communications department or the Girona City Council’s public records portal.