Formentera’s Football Pitch, Reborn as a Model of Sustainability and Local Sport

What specific needs motivated the remodelling of Formentera’s football pitch and why was it a priority?

The primary need was for shade and shelter from the rain for the fans. It was the first request the club made about five years ago, around 2021, when we began making our case that our supporters needed a sheltered space, especially from the sun. It hardly rains in Formentera, but the sun is intense, and matches—both grassroots and first team—are played in the morning. A covered area was therefore essential.

What state was it in before the work began?

The stands had weathered to a certain degree and the structure was no longer in good condition. As explained by the technical staff of the Island Council of Formentera, it did not support the weight nor meet the required conditions to install a cover that would offer shade and protection from the rain, as it had not been designed for it.

The project is 80% financed with sustainable tourism tax funds. How did this support come about and how important has it been for the project?

From the club, we sent our application to the Island Council of Formentera, which was responsible for seeking funding from the relevant department. That part depended directly on the Council, which is the ultimate project developer and overseer. Personally, I consider it a great advantage that the tourist tax can have an impact on social life on the islands. Using funds that come to the community from tourism—such a powerful economic driver—to create much-needed social and sporting infrastructure seems to me a very wise decision.

What criteria guided the design and capacity of the new stands, with space for about a thousand spectators?

The stands seat around 900 people. The criteria were technical, determined by those who designed the project. As the sole users of the pitch, we were consulted from the outset by the municipal technical staff. They proposed the capacity to us and we thought it was enough: almost a thousand people at the football pitch is a reasonable number. In fact, just a few months after the official opening, we filled it for a match.

The average audience is between 600 and 700 people, and the stands can perfectly handle this. It’s also covered from north to south, which is hugely important because it protects both first team and grassroots matches. Younger children play two games at a time and the parents are spread throughout the stands. Not all seats are taken, but the areas just in front of the two 7-a-side football pitches fill up. The pitch is used for both 11-a-side and 8-a-side football matches, and the stands are perfectly suited to both.

The pitch will be one of the first sports venues on the island to be powered by clean energy. Can it be considered a model for other public facilities?

Absolutely. We at the club appreciate it very much. Formentera is a place with a lot of sun and the renewable energy here is 100% usable. For a facility like a football pitch, which operates almost 24 hours a day, seven days a week, having an energy system based on clean energy is fantastic. Not only in terms of the savings, which directly benefit the Island Council of Formentera, but also in terms of the sustainability of such an active infrastructure. It’s a perfectly replicable model.

Minister Bauzà has spoken of the role of sport as a driving force for reducing seasonality in tourism. How can this work help to balance tourism with local life?

The crowds at the football pitch are particularly noticeable in September, October, May and June, which is peak tourism season. It seems that although football is not particularly a tourist activity, it still attracts many visitors, because there are tourists who are fans of sport and football in particular. This is especially noticeable at this time of year, although lots of people who don’t live on the island visit the pitch throughout the year.

A further project to provide the pitch with a drinking water network has been mentioned. What does it consist of and how does it relate to this renovation?

This is yet another request we have been making to the Council for years. We wanted the island’s mains water supply to reach the football pitch, not just for irrigation and sanitary facilities, but also to provide refreshments to the players. We want to have water fountains on the pitch, buy less water from elsewhere and eliminate the use of plastic bottles. Refillable fountains will help to prevent waste and improve sustainability.

Currently the pitch is irrigated with well water, with a very high salinity level that damages the facilities. Connecting to the network will be a huge step forward, because salt water is highly corrosive.

What measures are being taken to ensure the long-term maintenance of the new stands and the planned solar installation?

This also depends on the Island Council of Formentera. We carry out preventive maintenance tasks: cleaning and reporting to the Council when necessary. For example, during the last few weeks, the lower tier of the stand was flooded and will need seeing to. In general, everything related to solar panels and internal systems, such as lighting and underfloor heating, is managed by the Council.

Formentera is a growing club. Projects like this one prove it. What does it mean for the club and what message would you give to fans?

The new stands provide comfort for families and fans. Now they can attend matches in the right conditions: if it rains, they don’t get wet; if it’s sunny, they don’t get burnt. Comfort comes first.

And it’s a facility that gives peace of mind to both the club and the island. When away teams come, it’s a source of pride to be able to present a pitch in good condition. We feel the same way when we travel and see facilities that are better than ours: it causes healthy envy and a desire to improve.

These stands are accessible, offer shade and shelter, and that motivates us to continue working to promote the sport and train more footballers in Formentera. People are happy, and that makes all the difference.