In an interview with Rai, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis revealed plans for building a new stadium. So far, the most likely scenario seemed to be the modernization of the current venue, all with an eye on hosting Euro 2032. What changed?

The revation would be too complicated

I wanted to renovate Stadio Maradona, but the architects explained to me the difficulties such modernization would bring. We would have to build an entirely new stadium within the existing structure to bring the stands closer together. The real problem, however, is different: it would take us three years, and during that time, we would have to play elsewhere. That would be a problem, De Laurentiis said in an interview with Rai.

Napoli president also admitted that he has already commissioned the preparation of the new stadium project, and discussions are underway regarding acquiring the land for construction. The facility is set to be built in the western part of the city, in Bagnoli district. I ask Mayor Manfredi for support for this project, which is important for Naples. I would also build a shopping center and 12 fields for our academy, appealed the club president.

© Mister No (CC BY 3.0)

What does the Mayor of Naples think?

Mayor Gaetano Manfredi is the commissioner of Bagnoli; he is able to deal with formalities more quickly, while the owner of the land mentioned by the Napoli president is still Invitalia. A lot will depend on the credibility of the project, political will, and technical and economic possibilities. However, I admit that on this site, there is the possibility of building a facility for around 60,000 seats, said the mayor quoted by TuttoMercatoWeb. - We need 5 years to recover all 120 hectares, but if we started with where the stadium would ultimately be built, the time would be cut by more than half, he stated.

Or maybe moving outside Naples?

On the other hand, Luigi Umberto Petrella, the mayor of the municipality of Castel Volturno, just over 30 kilometers away from Naples, stated in an interview with Italian media that there is a possibility of building 12 new fields and a new stadium directly in Castel Volturno on lands that were originally intended for the construction of a power plant. Due to their specificity, they would be ready for immediate investment by Napoli.

However, it seems that De Laurentiis has taken a liking to the Bagnoli district because he does not want to leave the city. He promised that if everything goes according to plan, the new stadium will be ready for use in 2027.

© Gaetano Capaldo