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Udinese’s home to remain the Dacia Arena

Romanian automotive manufacturer Dacia has extended its contract as the main and stadium naming rights partner of Italian Serie A football club Udinese.

Dacia has partnered with the Udine-based club since 2009 and has now agreed to extend this association for a further three years, taking it through to 2023.

Dacia added stadium naming rights to the shirt sponsorship package in January 2016, as the venue otherwise known as Stadio Friuli reopened following an extensive redevelopment. The stadium, now known as the Dacia Arena, has a capacity of around 25,144 following the renovation.

Among the projects the two parties have worked on is ‘Stadio CO2 free’. Launched last season, the venture has ensured the Dacia Arena is now powered by electricity and gas from certified renewable sources, with zero environmental impact.

Thanks to green energy supplies, Udinese claims 777.17 tonnes of CO2 have already been saved in just eight months. In addition, energy requalification works for the stadium have been completed. Installation of new heating systems and a solar thermal system have optimised energy consumption by contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions. 

Stefano Campoccia, vice-president of Udinese, said: “With the current renewal with Dacia in 2023 we will reach 14 seasons together, a resounding and almost unique success in Italian football. Ours is a union of intent combined with numerous co-marketing initiatives that have always seen Udinese and Dacia at the forefront. 

“A further reason for pride is the sharing of the same vision linked to a green project that is very dear to Udinese Calcio and also to Dacia.”

In July 2019, Udinese announced that the Dacia Arena would be transformed into a multi-purpose venue open to the public throughout the week under an agreement reached between the club and the local municipality.

It was revealed that the venue would undergo a revamp costing between €20m (£18.1m/$23.3m) and €30m, with a series of new facilities lined up to be introduced in the heart of the stadium.

TV studios, a music school, a nursery, commercial offices, a medical centre, a fitness centre, a swimming pool, a museum, warehousing space, a congress centre and a brewery were among the facilities planned within the ‘Stadio 2.0’ renovation project.