Computer products manufacturer Computer Gross has expanded its sponsorship deal with Empoli by taking on naming rights to the home stadium of the Serie A football club.
As part of the deal, the Stadio Carlo Castellani will add ‘Computer Gross Arena’ to its official name. The new three-year deal will also see Computer Gross continue as the main shirt sponsor of Empoli.
The agreement has been signed as Empoli looks to progress with a redevelopment of the Stadio Carlo Castellani, which is named after a former player who died in a concentration camp during World War Two.
Computer Gross will be one of the investor partners in the stadium redevelopment. Empoli has carried out an analysis of the works needed and is aiming to present a financing plan by the end of 2023 with a view to breaking ground in 2024.
Empoli first revealed plans to redevelop the Stadio Carlo Castellani in 2018, but the work has stalled since then. The stadium has a current capacity of around 16,800 and the revamped ground would accommodate around 20,000 fans.
Under the plans outlined by Empoli in 2018, three of the four stands will be completely rebuilt, with the revamped stadium to be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi said: “This is only the first stage of the stadium project, as I can say that Computer Gross will be one of the investor partners in the redevelopment of the stadium, a project that does not only concern Empoli but our entire city and which will also be possible thanks to the help of the companies that will support us.
“If we are to think about the future, we need a stadium that is enjoyable. We have continuous contact with the municipal administration, to which we have transmitted our needs and those of our partners. We are currently in the planning and definition phase, we are making all the evaluations of the case, hoping by the end of the year to be able to present the project.”
