Stadio Erasmo Iacovone – design description

When were the plans for the new Stadio Erasmo Iacovone created?

In May 2022, the first drawings of the new stadium to be built in Taranto, in southern Italy, were presented to the general public. The project is a joint initiative of the city and a group of private investors, and the boost came from the 2026 Mediterranean Games, which Taranto received the right to host in 2019. The new facility is to replace the old Stadio Erasmo Iacovone, which has been in existence since 1965.

The GAU Arena studio (headed by arch. Gino Zavanella), who previously designed Juventus' new stadium, amongst others, is responsible for the stadium design. In November 2022, more details about the future facility were given and new renderings were presented. The arena is estimated to cost €46.8 million to build, with €18 million to come from public funds and the rest from private investors.

When will the new Stadio Erasmo Iacovone be built?

According to the timetable outlined in April 2023, full design documentation is to be ready in the summer of 2023, the bidding process is to take place in the first half of 2024, and construction work is to begin in June 2024. Construction would be completed in February 2026, and the inauguration of the new arena is scheduled to take place in April 2026, two months before the Mediterranean Games.

For the duration of the construction, the players of the Taranto FC 1927 club, who perform at Stadio Erasmo Iacovone, will have to move to another venue, with preliminary talk of a stadium in Francavilla Fontana, some 30 km away.

What will the new Stadio Erasmo Iacovone be like?

The new stadium is to be built on the site of the old Stadio Erasmo Iacovone, which will be demolished. The pitch of the new facility will be slightly shifted and rotated by 15° with respect to the previous one, thus placing it on a north-south axis and solving the problem of space constraints (with the current location, the construction of the northeast corner is blocked by the Via Lago di Como running next to it).

The entire surroundings of the stadium will be changed, with a large number of parking spaces to be built nearby. The stadium itself will be encircled by an elevated promenade, significantly widened in front of the main stand, where it will form a public square dotted with greenery.

The stadium will have a rectangular form, with rounded corners. Single-tier stands will surround the field on all sides, and the main grandstand, slightly higher than the others, will be located on the west side. The main stand will include VIP boxes and hospitality areas.

The capacity of the venue will be 16,306 spectators, including 1,200 seats in the guest section. The auditorium will be fully covered by a roof, and the outside of the stands will be shielded by a façade with multimedia screens. The facility will be designed to host top-level football matches and is expected to meet the requirements for UEFA Category 4 stadiums. It will be one of the most modern soccer arenas in southern Italy.

The stadium will have a significant amount of space for retail and entertainment purposes. It will include stores, a convention and medical center, a gym, offices and bars and restaurants, among others, so it is expected to be lively even outside match days.