WTorre impasse leaves Nova Vila Belmiro on hold as Santos upgrade current ground | OneFootball

Santos remain without a resolution on their new arena, with talks with WTorre paused for more than three months, so attention has turned to upgrades at Vila Belmiro.

According to Globo.com, years of negotiation produced a contract ready to sign in mid-March, but in April WTorre requested a suspension after finalising the draft and has not returned with proposals.

The club have refurbished the visiting and main stands, with further changes planned to the boxes, the marble hall and other areas. The Nova Vila Belmiro project would double capacity to 30,000.

The stalemate is likely to persist for a few more months, as WTorre still has matters to resolve with BTG Pactual. In May, a debt owed by the builder to Banco do Brasil was transferred to a distressed-credit manager linked to BTG, a move now contested in the São Paulo courts.

If construction does begin, completion is forecast to take up to three years, which would force Santos to play away from the Baixada Santista for an extended period. In São Paulo, the Pacaembu is seen as the most viable option.

In October last year, president Marcelo Teixeira called a press conference to announce an agreement with the company, yet no definitive outcome has followed.

Source: Globo.com