Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia – design description

How were the plans for the new Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia created?

How does the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia look so far?

Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia was opened in 1927, and initially the facility had an athletics track, which was additionally surrounded by a cycling track. Over the years the stadium underwent many transformations, the athletics and cycling tracks were eliminated, and the stands were rebuilt, also adding metal segments, which are not especially attractive.

Today, the facility gives a rather chaotic impression, and its charm is not particularly added by the large metal grandstand behind the western goal, which seats Como's most ardent fans (the so-called “curva azzurra” or “curva Como”). The stadium is also far from modern standards and has undergone ad hoc upgrades in recent years to meet the minimum requirements.

While the stadium itself does not look extraordinary, it should be noted that it is set in a beautiful scenery, on the shores of Lake Como, surrounded by high mountains. The neighborhood of the Aero Club Como and the hydroplanes landing nearby give the setting a truly “Bond” vibe.

Who does Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia serve?

The football club in Como was founded in 1907 as the Como Foot-Ball Club, and among its greatest successes was sixth place in Serie A in the 1949/50 season. The team began the 21st century with promotion to Serie B (2001) and Serie A (2002). However, the stay in the top division lasted then for only one season.

After relegation from Serie A in 2003, the club ran into financial problems. The crisis and playing in the lower tiers of the competition continued for a dozen years. After another bankruptcy, in 2017 the team was reactivated as Como 1907.

In 2019, the Hartono brothers, Indonesian businessmen who rank among the richest people in the world, became the new owners of the club. Como 1907 thus became the football club with the richest owners in Italy.

In 2021 the club was promoted to Serie B and in 2024, after a more than two-decade absence, to Serie A. The successes, and the fact that the club has new, wealthy owners, have revived discussions about a complete overhaul of the neglected stadium.

When were plans for the new Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia presented?

After promotion to Serie A in 2024, the stadium underwent another ad hoc facelift, but behind the scenes plans for a comprehensive renovation were already underway. The development of the project was handled by the renowned Populous studio.

On February 4, 2025, a press conference was held at City Hall with the participation of the president of Como 1907, Mirwan Suwarso, and Mayor Alessandro Rapinese. During the conference, the first renderings of the concept for the redevelopment of Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia were presented.

What does the concept for the new Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia entail?

The concept, developed by Populous, calls for a complete reconstruction of the stadium. The facility will receive new stands in a rectangular, football-oriented layout to accommodate a minimum of 15,000 spectators. Only the modernist facade of the southern stand will be retained from the existing structure.

The covered stands will be slightly higher behind the goals. The northern stand (on the side of Lake Como) is to be the most varied, and will gradually lower its height towards the west.

The stadium is to meet all modern standards and have extensive commercial facilities. The renderings, it is noted, are preliminary, and the concept is still subject to change.

When will the new Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia be built?

The preliminary timetable calls for completion of the design work and obtaining of all necessary permits by May 2026. After that, construction work should begin, which is expected to proceed in two phases: the first by October 2027 and the second by the summer of 2028, so that the rebuilt stadium will be ready for the start of the 2028/29 season. During the reconstruction, Como 1907 will still be able to play matches at its stadium.