Images: M28studio
SS Arezzo has presented plans for the complete transformation of Stadio Città di Arezzo in what the Serie C club claims will be a landmark project for Italian football.
SS Arezzo states the venture will be the first project in Italy to be entirely conceived and delivered in line with the updates of the new 2021 stadium law, legislation which seeks to simplify and assist clubs in delivering stadium work, speeding up the procedures for the construction of new facilities.
Stadio Città di Arezzo first opened in 1961 and an entirely new stadium is intended to be built on the current site. Through the project, which will be entirely privately financed by the club at a projected cost of around €28m (£23.3m/$29.5m), three stands will be demolished and rebuilt, while the main stand will undergo redevelopment.
The new Stadio Città di Arezzo is expected to operate with a seating capacity of 12,506, all covered. The project will be delivered in three phases, with the main stand remaining in use throughout, allowing SS Arezzo to continue to play its home games at the venue.
The plans, drawn up by Rome-based M28studio, have been inspired by the English stadium model and aim to create a facility that delivers strong year-round useability, essentially creating a multi-functional urban centre for the Tuscan city of Arezzo.
The stadium has been designed in-line with modern sustainability and urban integration standards, with a significant production of clean energy planned. The new stadium roof will be equipped with photovoltaic panels and rainwater recovery systems. In addition, a green ring is planned around the stadium with natural paths and flexible spaces that can be used for events or as urban parks.
The complex also includes the construction of commercial spaces and offices, with delivery of the new stadium intended by 2030. President of SS Arezzo, Guglielmo Manzo, said: “This is a historic day for us and I cannot hide my emotion.
“I believe it is the unmistakable sign of the bond we have created with this city, to which we want to offer a great opportunity for growth, not only on a sporting level, but also on an urban and environmental level.”
Mayor of Arezzo, Alessandro Ghinelli, added: “The club evidently has the resources to make this investment, undoubtedly significant, destined to enhance a part of the city. The municipal administration cannot but fully support a project that will give a modern stadium to a modern city, with sporting aspirations that could not be satisfied with the current structure, now obsolete and inadequate.”
The project has also received backing from Italian football authorities, at a time when investment in the country’s stadia continues to be a priority. It also comes after political party Forza Italia last week proposed a series of potentially significant legislative changes designed to accelerate sluggish stadium developments in the country and encourage investment from the private sector.
Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president, Gabriele Gravina, said: “The lack of infrastructure for sports practice is one of the Achilles heels of our country. It is therefore essential to welcome and support far-sighted entrepreneurs who want to invest in this sector. Another important aspect is the full harmony between the club and the local authorities.
“This project, inspired by the most modern standards of sustainability and urban integration, I trust can represent a guarantee of success for the city of Arezzo and for Italian football as a whole.”
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