More than six months have passed since the design was unveiled. There are still many question marks and bureaucratic obstacles in the way of Parma's plans. On November 13, a bicycle ride is to take place as part of a protest against the construction of the venue.

The football club and the municipality are in favour of building a new facility on the site of the old Stadio Ennio Tardini. This solution is the best in terms of future economic benefits. It will also prevent mistakes that were made, for example, in Bari, where the ground was created on the outskirts of the city and that location limited its revenue potential.

The Tardini Sustainability Committee is strongly opposed to the construction of a new stadium from scratch in the current location. The entity intends to organise a demonstration on this issue in the form of a bicycle ride on November 13.

Members of the aforementioned body only agree to a minor reconstruction of the arena. Moreover, they believe that if Parma Calcio 1913 wants to build from scratch, it should do so in a different neighbourhood.

© Parma Calcio 1913, Studio Zoppini

Relocation or ad hoc modernisation are not being considered by club owner Kyle Krause, who intends to spend € 70-80 million out of his own pocket on a new home for Parma. It is certain that Krause would like to recover part of this amount by profiting from the commercial space that will be created at the stadium.

The American's plans are perceived favourably by the city authorities. Later this month, at the session of the city council, a resolution is to be presented on the compliance of the construction of the new ground with the public interest. There is a good chance that the result of voting on this matter will be positive for the investor.

The construction of the new venue is not supported by some of the local politicians who cooperate with the Tardini Sustainability Committee. Both parties contest the length of the stadium concession that would be awarded to the club. It is said that it could be as long as 90 years.

According to them, it is definitely too long for a private entity such as a football club. They also question the long-term viability of the stadium as well as its aesthetics, comparing it to a rusty steel bunker.

© Parma Calcio 1913, Studio Zoppini

What's more, opponents of the construction believe that the 22,000-seat facility is too large considering its present location. As they claim, it would cause jamming of this part of the city and unfavourable changes for the natural environment and local businesses.

They would like the size of the future arena to be no more than 17,000 seats and its height to be reduced. However, a smaller auditorium would have a huge impact on the economic potential of the new Stadio Ennio Tardini as well as the club itself.

As you can see, there are many obstacles to overcome, although the detailed design of the stadium has not yet been prepared, not to mention the selection of the contractor. AC Parma is struggling in Serie B, currently occupying 14th place in the standing.

Author: Tomasz Sobura