Italian Serie A football club Cagliari has agreed a partnership with Istituto per il Credito Sportivo to aid the financing of its planned new stadium.
In May, Cagliari agreed a deal with Sportium to deliver the final design for the venue. The news marked the latest step in a project that dates back to 2015, when the first feasibility study was conducted. Cagliari has been playing at the temporary Sardegna Arena since the 2017-18 season after the Stadio Sant’Elia was closed with a view to being demolished and completely rebuilt.
The Istituto operates in the credit sector for sport and culture projects and carries out consultancy work for public and private developments. It has been appointed to attract investment to the Cagliari project, which includes the stadium and associated development of the surrounding area. Cagliari is hoping to form a public-private partnership for the venture.
Sportium is a company owned by Progetto CMR, iDeas and B&L Real Estate. Manica Architecture will lead the design work for the new stadium, which will have a capacity of around 25,000, expandable to 30,000.
Cagliari said in a statement: “The positive impact of the project on the social and economic structure of the territory concerned will be significant, with the redevelopment and urban enhancement of the entire stadium area, which will improve the quality of life of citizens and create a modern, sustainable stadium and with a strong identity of the land that will host it.
“The impact on the football system in our country will also be significant, which for the development of new stadiums, is playing the game of the future in four areas: the service to fans, the improvement of the product, the financial sustainability of the clubs and their competitiveness internationally.”
In April 2018, Cagliari selected a proposal from Sportium to develop its new stadium but was forced to revise plans amid the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) proposed bid for UEFA Euro 2024, which was eventually awarded to Germany.
Image: Manica Architecture
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