The rendering reflects Claudio Lotito's vision, which involves increasing the capacity of Stadio Flaminio without distorting the original structure designed by Pier Luigi and Antonio Nervi for the 1960 Olympic Games.

Reference to the history of the stadium

This is the same proposal that Lotito presented during a closed-door meeting with Gualtieri and his council a few weeks ago in Campidoglio. The project envisions the construction of a second tier of seating, which would increase Stadio Flaminio’s capacity to 50,000 seats.

The new plan features the rounded shapes characteristic of the second tier, designed to be superimposed on the original structure from the 1960 Olympics. The render shows how the original construction is elevated to support the new tier arrangement. The stadium is surrounded by a suspended walkway, and the Lazio logo is visible on the side. Filtered light penetrates between the two levels of seating, illuminating the field through rows of internal spotlights. This vision also includes fully covered stairways and new parking facilities.

© _smARTraveller

Obstacles to overcome

One of the main challenges is the stability of the infrastructure. Adding a second tier requires a thorough assessment to ensure safety. Currently, the structure is stable on just one side of the stadium, so it will be necessary to verify if the old foundations, which are in poor condition, can withstand the weight of the new seating. Engineers and designers are working to find solutions that meet both current regulations and the needs of the club and fans.

Despite these challenges, the sports councilor, Alessandro Onorato, expressed optimism: The project is very ambitious, highlighting the beauty of the venue and its architecture. We are very optimistic. Lotito has made concrete moves and is serious, Onorato was quoted as saying by abitarearoma.it.

© Pietromassimo Pasqui

Crucial times ahead

Having a modern stadium is crucial not only for accommodating more fans but also for improving the overall matchday experience. A 50,000-seat venue would also increase attractiveness for international events, thus contributing to the economic and sporting development of Lazio and Rome. Lotito aims to ensure the club's prosperous future by starting with solid infrastructure that can support the passion and enthusiasm of its fans.

According to La Repubblica, the dialogue between Claudio Lotito, president of Lazio, and Roberto Gualtieri, mayor of Rome, continues. The next meeting, scheduled for October, will be critical for the project's development. Lazio representatives are determined to resolve all issues and proceed with the investment.

Lazio is ready to invest €250 million to make this dream a reality. It’s possible that part of this amount will be covered by external partners, particularly from Asia. Such cooperation is not new in the football world and can be a beneficial solution to alleviate the financial burden of the project. Collaborating with Asian investors could bring not only fresh capital but also commercial and marketing opportunities essential for Lazio's future.

© _smARTraveller

Honoring the coaches?

A few days ago, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Lazio’s coach from 1997 to 2001, who led the club to an Italian championship, the Cup Winners' Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup, passed away. The Italian media have published many tributes, and the most heartfelt ones came from former players who were lucky enough to work with him. Among them was Juan Sebastián Verón, who told La Repubblica, It would be wonderful to name the new Biancocelesti stadium after Tommaso Maestrelli and Sven-Göran Eriksson. Tommaso Maestrelli was Lazio's coach during the 1973/74 season, when the club won its first-ever Italian championship.

© _smARTraveller

Lazio faces competition

However, the Biancocelesti are not the only ones interested in redeveloping the stadium designed by Pier Luigi Nervi. The sports association Roma Nuoto previously submitted a very detailed project, which will also need to be reviewed at the Conference of Services. Roma Nuoto’s interest stems from the fact that Flaminio once housed, in addition to several gymnasiums, a functioning 4-lane swimming pool, which Roma Nuoto used until 2011, when the stadium was closed. The project envisions the removal of architectural barriers around the stadium to enable the use of the currently abandoned historic park, renovations to the pool and gymnasiums, new padel courts, and neighborhood commercial spaces. There is also a proposal to make the venue a home for women's sports.

All current projects will be evaluated at the Conference of Services, after which the winning proposal will be selected. It will need to gain approval from all the involved institutional bodies, including, of course, the Capitoline Cultural Heritage Supervision, considering the historical and architectural significance of the site.