“Finally we are starting, the project is progressing to implementation – Our goal is to have the two stadiums ready in 2026”

“We’re finally getting started. To be precise, we started”…

With these words, Panagiotis Malakates announced the start of work on the Botanic area for the major project of the Double Redevelopment and the construction of the Panathinaikos stadium.

“We called you today with the Mayor to inform you about the very important developments of the Double Redevelopment. In two words: we’re finally getting started! Actually, we’ve started!”were the first words of the president of Amateur Panathinaikos at the press conference with the Mayor of Athens and he continued:

“All this time we have been in continuous discussions, with the Mayor and the agencies involved, in order to be happy to announce the progress of the work”

“Aim, both stadiums to be ready and in use in 2026”

To be ready the two courts, and the football one as well as that of Amateur Panathinaikos, in 2026 is the goal as both Panagiotis Malakates and the mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, pointed out.

In a question received by Panagiotis Malakates regarding the schedule of the works and the completion of the works, he pointed out that “Amateur’s facilities require much less time than the football field”and added that the the goal “is for this stadium to be ready at the same time as the football stadium, that is, in 2026”.

“Our facilities require less time than the football field. At this stage, the technical study and the initial budget have been completed. The building permit, the appointment of the contractor are pending. In any case, what is logical, since there cannot be a stadium and be idle, the goal is to complete the Amateur facilities at the same time as the football stadium.” were his words. At this point, let’s remember that the initial estimate was that the Amateur stadium would be ready in 2024.

“Time scares me”

Haris Doukas agreed with the position of Panagiotis Malakate regarding the goal of completing the projects, both stadiums, while earlier in another question he had received he had emphasized that the only thing that scares him in the project it is nothing but time.

“The time. That it is a very complex project, with sub-projects required. Greenery, infrastructure, rain, water, two facilities, two additional municipal and cultural facilities. Too many crews that will have to work together and all this will have to be done in the agreed place. So time is a sprint in a marathon. We have to run like crazy, although we have a very long time, to reach our goal».

In detail, what was said at the press conference regarding the subject of Double Redevelopment

Initially, Panagiotis Malakates took the floor, saying: “We called you today with the Mayor to inform you about the very important developments of the Double Redevelopment. In two words: we’re finally getting started! Actually, we started!. All this time we have been in continuous discussions, with the Mayor and the agencies involved, to be happy to announce the progress of the works».

For his part, Haris Doukas emphasized: “Let’s start with the positive news, since a few days ago I stated that we had all the words, but no work. We are in the field and our own crews are cleaning the specific area, and I say this with all responsibility to the residents of Athens and the friends of Panathinaikos. We slowly put things in line and they bear fruit. We are here with the Amateur and the PAE, who are close to us, and together we are discussing all the important steps we need to take. Thank you to everyone involved in this project. As the Municipality of Athens, we have created a good climate of commitment and tangible results. the contract is immediately signed for the consortium to take over».

“Having as the Municipality of Athens the responsibility and the first reason, we created a good climate and now we have tangible results. The contract for the joint venture contractor, which is the most important thing, and the immediate work to remove the rubble are signed immediately. A contract that is complementary, worth close to 7 million euros, and was signed by the Deputy Minister of Finance, beyond the financial committee and passed by the Board of Directors. and the signatures are immediately entered and in a very few days the contractor’s bulldozers and trucks will get to work. Our own bulldozers are already doing some preparatory procedures.

I would like to request that the main funding for the new stadium be signed off by the Ministry of Energy and Environment as soon as possible, so that we don’t waste any more time. To close the funding chapter, we managed to submit a technical report and extra funding for the cleaning around the stadium. This financing is around 4 million euros»

“Regarding the issue of the license for the new stadium, we need to take quite difficult steps, that’s why we needed a lot of time. The main thing is that we overcame a series of difficulties and are moving on to the next steps. And in the next period these steps will be completed, with the pre-approval of the permit and in the summer we will have the normal approval of the permit and we will have the foundation of the project.

The next step is the accompanying projects, two contracts that are very important, since without them the facilities cannot function and they change the image of Eleonas. From abandonment we move to development, in a new green space in Athens».

“To conclude, the preliminary work for the Amateur has been approved and the work is being done with the consortium of Banks. It is a private project and can run faster. Whatever problem arises, the Municipality will be of assistance. We promise that we will be next to the whole plan, to steer in the right way and that there will be no problem for Amateur Panathinaikos. The project is gaining momentum, and this has been a topic of intense concern to me and the team that has worked on it.».

Regarding the funds and revaluations that may occur in the next period due to international factors, such as the developments in the Middle East, Doukas underlined: “It is a complex project, very complex, as it is in other projects that take place all over the planet. Arrangements have been made for the extra parking spaces and we are waiting for pre-approval regarding the demolitions and we are waiting for the overall permit. We are going step by step to move forward and are in constant communication with the relevant ministries. When we started, there was 10 meters of rubble and we found two different ways to clean the stadium and the surrounding area, so that the process could proceed quickly, and that is why today we are making the formalities that the work and the contractor have started. And in the next steps, there will be possible gaps, which are guaranteed, and we will manage the difficulties in the same way. Where needed we will find extra resources to cope. The important thing is that the basic amount is here and they enable the project to proceed».

Then, the Mayor of Athens was asked about what scares him the most about the specific works: “The time. That it is a very complex project, with sub-projects required. Greenery, infrastructure, rain, water, two facilities, two additional municipal and cultural facilities. Too many crews that will have to work together and all this will have to be done in the agreed place. So time is a sprint in a marathon. We have to run like crazy, although we have a very long time, to reach our goal».

About the schedules and what is in effect now

Mr. Malacates said: “Our facilities require less time than the football field. At this stage, the technical study and the initial budget have been completed. The building permit, the appointment of the contractor are pending. In any case, what makes sense, since there can’t be a stadium and be idle, the aim is to complete the Amateur facilities at the same time as the football stadium».

And Mr. Doukas declared: “The presidential decree says that both the stadiums must be ready together. The main target, the date we have, is 2026, and the football team and the Amateur can use them».

Regarding whether there is currently secured funding and whether there is a positive response for funding compatibility, Doukas emphasized: “There was no funding for decontamination and we did a systematic job to find 10 million plus. If the funding was secured it would have required extra work for us. And this starting… That’s why we are happy, because of this work, for the consortium to enter the stadium area. You know we are talking about a complex project. To be able to cover cash flow from a job is completely different from having the money in the Municipality to make a disbursement.

That is why I said that the most important thing is time. After 2022 was ready, it would make it easier for us to have the money and not now and push to make a technical sheet, to get the approval. It would be completely different if it wasn’t up in the air, and I’m fighting for it not to be, for the contractor to come and the work to proceed. And this discussion can be called bureaucracy, but it takes a lot of time. For this reason we try to do it as quickly as possible, so that there is not even a single day of delay. All this was agreed, but we should also have it in the treasury. That is why we are also waiting for the 115 million euros for the joint venture».

For those who are worried that there may be demolition of the Avenue, before all the works in Botanikos are completed, Mr. Malakates said: “First of all, to those who have a different opinion about the stadium, I respect them, because they are Panathinaikos. We will listen to them to see what they have to say and answer the questions they ask. A demolition permit is a prerequisite. As you know, the demolition permit is non-enforceable until all the works in Botanikos are completed and then only the Avenue will be demolished. Until then there is no reason not to do all this».

In conclusion, Mr. Doukas spoke about the remaining projects and the money required: “Today we are closer than ever, thanks to Panathinaikos, for the creation of the largest urban park to be created in Athens in the last 100 years and it will be one and a half kilometers from where we are now. And the plan envisages a large center of culture, sports and recreation, covering an area of ​​300 acres, which will include close to 5 thousand projects, swimming pools, pedestrian areas, playgrounds, reconstruction of the Holy Road with a bicycle track. What we are all fighting for is for the regeneration to proceed as a whole and to have the final regeneration in the area of ​​Eleonas which will have created another perspective. That is why we say how important the project is in Athens. Certainly the stadiums are the catalyst, but around them is built the essence of the Double Regeneration».