Redevelopment work at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, home of Fiorentina, could be extended until 2028 in a move that would enable the Serie A club to remain at the stadium for the duration of the project.
The Franchi, which has a current capacity of 43,000, is set to be fitted with a roof and new grandstands that will bring fans closer to the pitch. The new stadium would have a capacity of at least 40,000.
In January, Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella confirmed that Fiorentina will play at the Franchi next season while the stadium undergoes redevelopment work, although it will be operating at a reduced capacity of 22,000.
Nardella had previously said that Fiorentina would require a temporary home for two seasons while the work is carried out. Under the timeline announced in January, the club would spend the 2025-26 season at a temporary 18,000-capacity stadium in Padovani before returning to the new-look Franchi in 2026-27.
However, Florence Senator Paolo Marcheschi has now revealed that the redevelopment project could be extended to 2028. Marcheschi said this would enable Fiorentina to remain at the stadium without needing to move to a temporary facility.
The new timeline, which would be made possible thanks to a revised financial programming put forward by Italy’s Minister for European Affairs Raffaele Fitto, still needs to be ratified.
The Municipality of Florence recently awarded the contract for the Franchi redevelopment to a consortium made up of the COBAR and SAC Società Appalti Costruzioni companies. The contract is worth just over €90m (£77m/$98m).
