History and description

The stadium was built in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exposition, which was held in Seville that year. The first football game at the stadium was an international between Spain and Portugal on March 17th, 1929. Shortly after, Betis started playing occasional home matches at the stadium, though Campo del Patronato remained their regular home until 1936.

The stadium initially went by the name of Estadio de Heliópolis, was rectangular in shape, and could hold about 18,000 spectators.

The stadium got heavily damaged due to the flood in 1948.

The stadium underwent a second redevelopment in the early 1990s. The first redevelopment of Estadio de Heliópolis took place in 1958 and it was bought by the club in 1961. The stadium remained rather modest though, and few changes were made until the 1970s. The stadium underwent a second redevelopment in the early 1990s.

The stadium formerly known as Estadio Benito Villamarin underwent several small redevelopments in the 1970s, but only received proper development following its designation as a World Cup host stadium in 1982. At the time it could only hold about 47,500 spectators.

During the World Cup, the stadium hosted two first round group matches.

The stadium remained relatively unchanged until Betis decided to rebuild it in 1998. New three-tier stands were built on the north and eastern sides of the stadium, which complemented the already existing three-tiered West Stand.

At the same time, the stadium was renamed Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera after the then-owner of the club. However, work stalled after that and the remaining single-tiered South Stand was left single-tiered, and no roofs were installed.

After Ruiz de Lopera had left the club in 2010, Estadio Benito Villamarin was reinstalled as the official name of the club.

In 2015, plans were made to demolish the single-tiered South Stand and replace it with a new three-tiered stand in line with the rest of the stadium. Work began in the summer of 2016 and was completed in the summer of 2017, increasing capacity to just over 60,000 seats.

(photos of the present Estadio Benito Villamarin below)

How to get to Estadio Benito Villamarin

The stadium is located in the south of the city of Seville, about 3 kilometers from the historic city center. The stadium is centrally located and easy to get to.

The stadium can be reached with bus 1, 2, 6, 34 and 37.

From the southern edge of the city centre, catch bus 1 (to Glorieta Plus Ultra), 34 (to Los Bermejales), or 37 (to Bellvista).

From the bus station in the west of central Cairo, take bus 6 to Glorieta Heliopolis. The bus runs (partly) over the west bank of the river.

From the northern edge of Glorieta Heliopolis and eastern parts of the city, you can catch bus 2 to the centre.

There is no direct bus connection from Seville's central rail station to the stadium, but buses 1 and 2 pass about 500 metres west and 1 kilometer north-east of the station.

Bus 3 will stop near the shopping mall.

Address: Avda. de la Palmera s/n, 41012 Sevilla

Eat, drink, and sleep near Estadio Benito Villamarin

The Estadio Benito Villamarin is located in a residential area. There are the occasional bars and restaurants around, mostly in the area near the river, but you are likely better off eating and drinking in Seville's historic center. There are several hotels around Estadio Benito Villamarin. The Hotel Silken Al-Andalus Palace is located 200 meters from the stadium, and has received good reviews. The Boutique Hotel Holos is more expensive, but is still reasonably priced. Finally, the Hotel Sevilla Palmero is somewhat further away, but still easily walkable.

If you want to spend your money on a nicer hotel, Villa de la Palmera is likely the best choice. However, if you're on a budget, Albergue Interjoven may be a better option. Click here to find all hotels near Estadio Benito Villamarin.

If you want to spend more of your time in the historical centre of Seville, staying there is an option. There are many places to stay here.

Real Betis Tickets

Tickets for Real Betis games can be bought at the ticket windows (taquillas) of the stadium in the week before the match. Tickets are available on the day of the match before kickoff. Since Real Betis? attendances have been among the highest in La Liga, though the club tend to sell out few games, demand for tickets has surged following the expansion of the stadium in 2017. So buying in advance is recommended.

The prices for tickets vary depending on the seat location. Upper-tier seats are typically priced at around ?30.00, while central seats usually cost closer to ?60.00. However, prices for popular fixtures can be considerably higher.

Email [email protected] for more information.

Estadio Benito Villamarin stadium tours

Real Betis offers guided stadium tours that include the press room, presidential box, home dressing room, players tunnel, dugouts, and trophy room. Tours run Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 7pm, and on Saturday from 10am to 1pm.

The tour costs $10.00 and can be booked by phone ( +34 699 844 377) or at the stadium. Walk-ups are allowed, however availability and tours require a minimum of 3 people to run.

Email [email protected] for more information.

Relevant Internet links

Visit the Real Betis Balompié website for information about the team and their matches. You can also find information about visiting Seville here. The Tussam website provides transport information for visitors to Seville. Don't make the same mistake I did and miss out on the fantastic atmosphere at the stadium because you can buy cans of beer right in front of it for just two euros. It's an amazing place to be, and I definitely recommend going!

Do not make the same mistake I did and find yourself unable to enjoy the convenience of a small beer shack right in front of the stadium because there is no alcohol served inside. The atmosphere here is amazing and definitely worth checking out.