the gibraltar football association proposed to build the europa point stadium to replace the victoria stadium as gibraltar's national stadium. owing to opposition, the europa point stadium plans were scrapped by the local government of gibraltar. an alternative plan for replacement of victoria stadium was put forward for a new stadium to be built at lathbury barracks however the gibraltar ornithological and natural history society opposed this citing that the ministry of defence would have to give up land that had been designated by the european union habitats directive as a special area of conservation for the proposed site. in april 2017, the gibraltar football association announced its purchase of the stadium in order to redevelop it into a uefa category 4 stadium at a cost of £16.5 million given to the gfa by uefa and fifa. the proposed new stadium sites at lathbury and europa point would be developed into multi-sports facilities by the government of gibraltar. the gfa announced it would invest £15 million into the stadium after purchasing it owing to grants from uefa and fifa. as a result of the gfa's purchase of victoria stadium, uefa dropped their objections to the stadium providing works to expand the stadium to 8,000 capacity were complete by 2018 then they would be permitted to use the stadium for their home games in uefa sanctioned international competition matches. in january 2018, it was announced that due to the gibraltar music festival being held at the stadium that year, football games in august and september would be played at lathbury barracks.