Kiryat Shmona Stadium Set for 2027 Return After Extensive Renovations

The return of the Kiryat Shmona soccer team to its home stadium is nearing, with an estimated reopening date set for late January or early February 2027. The team is expected to be able to resume training in the city after the winter break, following extensive renovations at the municipal stadium. The stadium's fan organization recently toured the facility, accompanied by the mayor, the stadium's project manager, the stadium director, and other municipal representatives.

The renovation plan involves a five-stage process. Key upgrades include replacing existing seats with foldable ones, similar to those in larger Israeli stadiums, removing iron fences from within and around the stands and replacing them with specialized glass, and repositioning the grass field to improve viewing angles. Additionally, access routes to the stadium have been improved, LED lighting has been installed, and future plans include smart turnstiles with barcode scanning and display screens.

There is also a plan to expand the stadium's capacity to 10,000 seats, which has already received approval and funding. The fan organization has communicated to the mayor and project manager their willingness to wait for a fully renovated stadium rather than accept a patchwork solution, emphasizing that a timely completion is crucial to ensure promised government funding is not delayed.

This approach aims to balance the desire for a quality facility with the need to expedite the work without compromising on standards. The fan organization stressed that a swift completion is in everyone's interest, both for the facility's appearance and budget management.