Nuovo stadio di Venezia – design description

How does the design of the new stadium in Venice look in a nutshell?

The construction of a new stadium in Venice has been planned for years, or even... decades. The breakthrough, however, came only after promotion to Serie A in 2021, when the city authorities, headed by its mayor, took matters into their own hands.

The stadium will replace the run-down Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, one of the oldest venues in Italian footbal, which is located in the historic center of Venice. The new facility will be built on the mainland, near Marco Polo Airport.

The modern arena will receive a lightweight, oval form. The stands will accommodate 18,500 spectators, and their sinusoidal contour is intended as a reference to the sea waves. The airy facade will consist of white vertical slats.

The stadium will be part of the “sports forest” (Bosco dello Sport) – a new sports and recreational complex with a park-like character, overgrown with trees and other vegetation, among which numerous walking paths are planned. A sports hall for 10,000 spectators will also be built in the immediate vicinity of the stadium.

Work on the entire Bosco dello Sport, including the construction of the sports hall, began in the spring of 2024. Construction of the stadium itself is expected to start a little later – in mid-2025, and it is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027.

How did the construction of the new stadium in Venice come about?

When were the first plans to build a new stadium in Venice conceived?

Venezia FC's existing facility, Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, has been in existence since 1913 and is considered the second oldest functioning football stadium in Italy to date – after Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa. The stadium is located in the historic center of Venice, on the island of Sant'Elena.

Since the venue is located in one of the least accessible places in Venice, there have long been proposals to build a new stadium on the mainland – the first plans were made shortly after World War II.

Subsequent proposals followed promotion to Serie A in 1961 and before the 1990 World Cup, and since the 1990s new plans have appeared with even greater frequency.

Years passed, however, and the new facility was not built. On the other hand, not much money was invested in the old stadium either – since a new one was planned. Thus, today most of the stands of Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo are temporary structures.

How did the club's situation at the beginning of the 21st century affect plans to build a new stadium?

At the turn of the century, the club from Venice played three seasons in Serie A, but then came a crisis and three bankruptcies – in 2005, 2009 and 2015. After the third bankruptcy, the club was reactivated by American investors. In 2016 it managed to get promoted to Serie C, and just a year later to Serie B.

After promotion to Serie B in 2017, the topic of building a new stadium resurfaced again. The facility was to be built in the Tessera district in the north of the city, less than 2 km from Venice Marco Polo Airport.

The new stadium project for Venezia FC was presented in July 2018, and a number of other facilities were to be built along with the stadium: a commercial park, administrative buildings and a hotel. The investment was to be 100% privately financed.

How did the latest project for a new stadium in Venice come about?

In 2021, the Venice club was promoted to Serie A after a 19-year hiatus. Since the plan from the 2018 didn't pan out, matters were taken into their own hands by the city authorities, along with Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, an ardent supporter of building a new venue.

When was the vision for Bosco dello Sport presented?

On March 23, 2022, the city presented a concept for a “sports forest” (Bosco dello Sport), a new sports and recreation complex, the main element of which was to be a new stadium – in addition to which a sports hall and a so-called “educational zone” were also planned, and the whole thing was to be surrounded by a park area with lots of trees.

Bosco dello Sport was to be built near the airport (on the same site where the stadium was planned back in 2018). This time, the project was to be 100% publicly financed.

The concept created by Marazzi Architetti included an urban plan for the entire site, and the vision for the new stadium presented in it was only preliminary – its final shape was yet to be developed.

When did the construction of Bosco dello Sport begin?

The tender for the construction of the entire complex was awarded in March 2024, and was won by a consortium of Bordignon, Fincantieri and Ranzato, which soon began work. The new sports hall was the first to be built, and work also began on the surrounding area – the site where the new stadium was to stand, however, was left empty pending its design.

When was the latest concept for the new stadium in Venice presented?

The contractors entrusted the design of the new stadium to the well-known international company Populous and the local Maffeis Engineering. The final concept for the stadium was presented at City Hall in Mestre (Venice's main “mainland” district) on April 18, 2025.

When will the new stadium in Venice be built?

Construction of the new stadium should begin in mid-2025, after a detailed design is drawn up. The facility is expected to be ready in spring 2027.

How much is it expected to cost to build the new stadium in Venice?

The investment will be 100% financed by public funds. Construction of the stadium will cost €92.3 million, of which €47 million is to come directly from the city budget, and €45 million from a loan taken out for the purpose.

Construction of the entire Bosco dello Sport will cost €315 million. The total amount of the loan the city intends to take out for the project is €65 million. The city has also received funding from the state budget of more than €93 million.

What does the new Venice stadium project entail?

What will the new stadium in Venice be like?

The stadium will be given an oval shape. Its stands will be built in a football-specific layout and will be able to accommodate 18,500 spectators (the stadium's capacity for concerts is expected to be 25,000). The upper edge of the stands will take on a sinuous form, which is intended to be a loose reference to the sea waves in the Venetian Lagoon.

The main stand will be located on the west side and will be divided into three floors. It will include boxes and VIP seating, press areas and extensive backstage facilities. The stands on the other sides will be divided into upper and lower sections and will be equipped with food and beverage outlets. The auditorium will be fully covered.

On the outside, the facility will be covered with white vertical slats with open spaces in between – these will make the facade light and airy, offering views into the arena, and the building, standing amidst a park-like setting, can be seen as a garden pavilion.

The stadium will be surrounded by a raised, crescent-shaped podium, with parking lots and additional spaces underneath. The facility will be characterized by gently curved lines and elliptical shapes, corresponding with the forms present in the whole setting and the architecture of the nearby sports hall.

Where will the new Venice stadium be built?

The stadium is to be the centerpiece of the “sports forest” (Bosco dello Sport), a new 116-hectare sports and recreation complex, part of which will also include a large indoor arena with stands for 10,000 spectators.

The entire complex will be given a park-like character: it will be overgrown with trees and other vegetation, among which there will be numerous walking paths. An important element of the complex will become a so-called educational zone with playing fields, a skatepark and equipment for various sports.

Bosco dello Sport will be built on the mainland, in the northern district of Tessera, far from the main buildings of the city, but will be perfectly connected: the site is located by the A57 highway, a planned train stop and less than 2 km from Venice Marco Polo Airport.

Who will the new stadium in Venice serve?

The facility will be hosted by the Venezia FC and the stadium is expected to meet the requirements for Serie A. In addition to football games, it will also be able to host rugby matches, as well as concerts and other cultural events.