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Italian Serie A football club Fiorentina’s new Viola Park training facility has officially opened, with the development featuring two mini-stadiums.
Located to the east of Florence, Viola Park will be the new home for the club’s women’s and youth teams, whilst being the training centre for the men’s team. The complex features two stadiums – one of 3,000 seats and one that can host 1,500 – and a total of 10 pitches, as well as numerous other club facilities, including office space, media facilities and a chapel.
The club marked the opening with a spectacular drone show that capped a ceremony featuring a video message by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“The challenge nowadays for all clubs is to modernise while respecting football’s great traditions, and this new training ground and club headquarters will take Fiorentina firmly into the future,” said Infantino, who visited the facility last year when it was under construction.
“Viola Park is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. It represents an investment – not only for professional football, but also for youth football – and I am especially pleased that the women’s teams will also have use of these facilities.
“I have visited many sports centres, but this one that my very dear friend [Fiorentina owner] Rocco [Commisso] has built here, is a world-beater and I can’t wait to come back to Florence to see the finished version.”
Commisso’s family has financed the project, which has cost at least €75m and was first announced almost three years ago to the day.
Separately, Fiorentina is planning a redevelopment of its Stadio Artemio Franchi, which opened in 1931 and has a current capacity of around 43,000. The Municipality owns the Franchi and is leading the proposed renovation project.
Image: ACF Fiorentina
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