Brussels' Euro 2020 stadium "may face delays in construction after an environmental report cast doubt over the viability of the venue," according to Samindra Kunti of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. The projected public funding of €432M ($472M) "is also raising eyebrows." Brussels was chosen ahead of Cardiff to host group matches and a round of 16 match. With the King Baudouin Stadium outdated, Belgium proposed the "Eurostadium," a "state-of-the-art all-seater stadium on the outskirts of Brussels" as the venue for Euro 2020 with a construction delivery date in '19. The council of Brussels "proceeded to choose the Ghelamco consortium as the candidate to finance, build and operate the stadium." Yet the "prestigious project" is facing "an uphill struggle from the start." An environmental report underlines that the transport circulation around the stadium, near Brussels' ring road, "will be precarious with a predicted surge in traffic jams." The projected construction of Neo, "a new neighborhood and shopping district in lieu of the old King Baudouin Stadium," would add to the congestion. The stadium is "also facing opposition over public funding." Local politicians repeatedly stated in the Brussels parliament that the new stadium would not "cost the Belgian tax payer a penny," but such claims "may not be true:" the Brussels council, the Brussels region and the Flemish government will invest €80M ($87.4M) in the parking, €123M ($134.3M) in the exploitation of the stadium, €150M ($163.8M) in access roads, €33M ($36M) in security, €45M ($49M) in lease and €1.3M ($1.4M) in legal fees, according to local newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 2/2).
