A significant chapter in Limassol’s sports infrastructure has been definitively closed with the European Commission’s approval of €44.5 million in public funding for the construction of the city’s new football stadium.
The decision confirms that the state aid measures fully comply with EU rules. The new venue, completed in 2022, replaced the old stadium which no longer met modern safety and technical standards and could not host international events.
The funding was allocated to the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA), which remains the owner and operator of the facility. Beyond football matches, the stadium can host educational and cultural events, enriching the broader life of the city.
Simultaneously, the Commission approved a 20-year usage agreement between KOA and three professional clubs — Apollon Limassol, AEL Limassol and Aris Limassol. The clubs gain the right to use the stadium for home matches at a fixed annual rent below market rates, in exchange for maintenance, safety and public access obligations.
According to the assessment, the measures were deemed necessary due to the absence of private funding, proportionate to requirements, and with limited impact on competition between member states.
