Full steam ahead to former glory

BTV REPORT

A delegation from Sport Lisboa e Benfica, led by the President, Rui Costa, visited on Wednesday, October 16, the works to transform the Club's former headquarters into the pioneering 1904 Benfica Hotel, in Rua Jardim do Regedor.

Covered with scaffolding and the scene of a frenzy of workers and machines, the building of the former headquarters of Sport Lisboa e Benfica is gradually recovering its former glory and invoking the affective memory of so many Benfiquistas who, in the past, lived there, paid their dues and signed up new members in the heart of Lisbon's prime area.

Seven months after the signing of the partnership between the Benfica Foundation, to whom the Club donated the historic building, and FLH Hotels for its revitalization, work is well underway. At the appointed time, everyone put on their safety equipment and was guided through the space that will house the future 1904 Benfica Hotel, which is scheduled to open in September/October 2025.

After passing through the hotel's future entrance lobby, the delegation headed by the President climbed a staircase to the first floor, which will house a restaurant and a multipurpose room intended primarily for guests' leisure, but which could also be adapted for conferences and Club events. The hallmark of this floor will be the bar in the style of an English pub from the early 20th century, a space where you can breathe Benfica, with photographs of former athletes and a huge symbol of the Club on the ceiling.

The remaining floors will be used for the vast majority of the 56 rooms. Next to the door of each room will be a niche that will be decorated with specific pieces from Benfica's past and present. The last two floors, which will be built from scratch, will provide guests with a magnificent view of São Jorge Castle and Rua das Portas de Santo Antão.

Little by little, the idea is being carved out of wood and concrete, the photographs of the projects displayed on the walls are coming to life and, as Rui Costa said in a short speech, there will be no doubt about the continued strong presence of Benfica for those who pass by in the future.

At the end of the visit, Carlos Moia, executive president of the Benfica Foundation, highlighted the progress of a long-studied project aimed at preserving the club's history.

"The building was in decline and dangerous. We found this formula, which took years to study. It's a difficult formula given the area where it's located. It wasn't easy to start work, but it's progressing quickly. The building is deeply connected to Benfica, and the old Benfica history that is here will continue over the years. Anyone who passes this street will see even more of Benfica than what was already here. It will be an icon transformed into the reality of all that Benfica represents," said Carlos Moia, speaking to the Club's media, stressing that the building will provide “precious help” for the Foundation to guarantee the fulfillment of its mission in Portugal and around the world.

The host of the guided tour, António Quintão, a partner at FLH Hotels, spoke about the importance and challenges of building a hotel worthy of Benfica's history.

"This is a building that has belonged to Benfica for many years. Many of our ancestors came here to pay dues and everything, but we want to bring a different dynamic. This will be a Benfica brand in the city center, and that's very important nowadays. Not just for tourism, but also for the Portuguese who come here. These people need to know what Benfica is, which is not just football and other sports, but also history and culture. The hotel will bring back those memories of what the past was like and give them a glimpse of what the future will be like," he claimed.