CE Europa, forced to move stadium to keep reaching new heights

Even though Club Esportiu Europa are about to enjoy a historic season, it’s not going to be without trouble. 

A founding member of La Liga back in 1929, Europa are playing this season in Primera Federació, the third tier of Spanish football, after surprising everyone last season and winning their league. The club are deeply rooted in the community in their Barcelona neighbourhood of Gràcia, and play their home games at the Nou Sardenya stadium. 

The graciencs have only ever played at this high a level in the Spanish football pyramid once in the last 50 years, but are gearing up for what will be a campaign for the history books. 

However, they’re going to have to do it by moving home stadium halfway through the season. Currently, the plan for the club and the Barcelona city council is to play at the Can Dragó sports facility in the district of Nou Barris from January.

The reason for this is that the federation rules state that in this league, clubs have to play on pitches with real grass, whereas Europa’s Nou Sardenya stadium has a surface of artificial grass. A car park beneath means that the playing surface cannot be changed for one with real grass. 

Thus, the Can Dragó alternative has been found, a solution which only raises plenty of more questions. 

The athletics track will need a lot of work before it’s suitable to host any football matches, but the space is there to convert the facility into a Primera RFEF ground. 

A new, more even surface will have to be laid on the pitch, while temporary stands and light fixtures will have to be installed, likely in the area of the running track around the pitch. 

"Strange situation"

“It's a strange situation” to have to move ground, admits Àlex Cano, captain of CE Europa. “Europa is from Gràcia, Europa always plays at the Nou Sardenya.”

The club is still trying to earn special dispensation to be allowe to play all home games in Gràcia next season, but the decision rests with the authorities. “If it cannot be the case, in January we have to go to another stadium, so we will do it,” Cano says. “Our fans will be with us, because they have always shown that, both home and away.”

Fans, naturally, aren’t very happy with the prospect of not being able to finish the season in their home ground. 

Marc, a Europa fan, still holds out hope for the appeal to be able to play out the season at the Nou Sardenya, “but if not, then we go to Can Dragó to try to avoid the drop and continue climbing again.”

Fans and players struggle to see the logic behind the federation’s rules. “If you can play on artificial grass in the Champions League or the Europa League,” Cano ponders, “but they don't let that happen in Primera Federació, well, that’s a bit strange considering they allow it in the highest European competition.” 

Another fan that Catalan News caught up with at the Torneig d’Historics, Ricard, agrees, “it's always better to play at home because you're used to it and the atmosphere is much better.” For him and most other Europa fans, having to make the journey out of the neighbourhood out to Can Dragó would be “an extra journey, that’s maybe difficult for some and they can’t go.” 

Sporting difference?

This summer, CE Europa have been prioritizing playing pre-season friendlies on real-grass pitches, as every stadium they visit this season will be of a surface they’re not fully used to. 

But how much of a difference does playing on real grass make? 

Veteran Cano says that it depends on what a player is used to. “For those who are used to playing on natural grass, they don't like playing on artificial grass,” he explains. “And those like me, who have been playing on artificial grass all my life, I like playing on real grass, but I’m not so used to it.”

Marc says that the Nou Sardenya has been “a fortress” for Europa in recent seasons, and “very few teams manage to get points there.” Thus, he says “it would be a disadvantage for Europa to have to play somewhere else.” 

In spite of the difficulties, the team head into the new season with excitement and optimism.

“We know that it will be a tricky year, a very exciting year, but that Europa has nothing to lose and we will try stay in the division, which is a very enjoyable one,” says club captain Cano.