Levante UD has requested LaLiga to play its first two matches of the 26/27 season as the away team. The reason is that the pitch at the Ciutat de València will be damaged following a series of concerts and events scheduled until July 25. The club needs a month to replant it, delaying the home opener until late August. The decision aims to ensure a field in suitable condition for the rest of the season.
The logistics of the pitch: between concerts and express replanting 🌱
The process of recovering the playing field involves removing the damaged layer, aerating the soil, and sowing new grass with controlled irrigation systems. Under optimal conditions, the grass takes between three and four weeks to root sufficiently to withstand a match. The July 25 deadline leaves just enough margin to have it ready by late August. The club has prioritized this technical planning over the commercial calendar, accepting the cost of starting away from home.
The pitch, that guest artist who doesn't charge but demands rest 🎤
While Levante asks to play away, the concerts leave the field in tatters. Fans will have to wait until late August to see their team at home, but at least the pitch will arrive rested and without a festival hangover. Of course, if any player slips in September, they know who to blame: the singer of the moment who left the stadium with more potholes than the Alboraya road.