The Council of State ruling confirmed the loss of €55 million allocated for the renovation of Stadio Franchi, which was part of the "Next Generation EU-Italia" plan. These funds were intended to cover the costs of conservation and ecological revitalization of public areas and facilities.

Goals inconsistent with the original purpose of the funds

In January 2022, the Municipality of Florence applied for funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to modernize Stadio Artemio Franchi and transform it into a flexible structure that could contribute to the urban revitalization of the Campo di Marte area. The project was to be funded both by PNRR and the National Complementary Plan, with €95 million already approved for disbursement.

However, despite the initial green light from the Ministries of the Interior and Finance, the Ministry of Economy requested further clarifications regarding the project, finding its objectives insufficiently defined. After additional supplements, on April 28, the funding was canceled based on feedback from the European Commission, drastically reducing the funds for the Franchi renovation. A final appeal to the administrative court (TAR) was rejected because the goals of the Nardelli administration, which focused on high-quality football standards, were deemed inconsistent with the social principle.

© ACF Fiorentina

Fiorentina has a plan to complete the investment

Despite the financial issues, Fiorentina is ready to enter the second phase of the works, allocating €50 million, provided they gain full control over the construction site and a 40-year concession for the stadium to maximize revenue from events and concerts. However, an additional €50 million still needs to be found, though Fiorentina's authorities have a plan. €10 million could come from the region, another €10 million from the city and metropolitan area, and the rest could be covered by Rome with the help of Minister Abodi.

The goal is to accelerate the process so that the stadium reaches a capacity of 35,000 seats by its 100th anniversary in 2026, although full completion of the renovation is planned for 2029. A meeting will be held next week to discuss the possibility of Fiorentina relocating some matches to Stadio Carlo Castellani to speed up the construction process, in line with the wishes of club owner Rocco Commisso.

© Luca Aless (CC BY-SA 4.0) | Stadio Carlo Castelani