In Lecce, there is an intense race against time to complete the modernisation of the stadium before the 2026 Mediterranean Games. However, ecological controversies and a lack of use of modern technologies have arisen in the planning stage.

Missed opportunity for ecological solutions?

On November 12, 2024, more than 40 environmental organisations and experts called for the implementation of environmentally friendly solutions. The key demand was to equip the stadium with a photovoltaic system, similar to what happened in Udine. There, the roof of the new sports facility will be covered with photovoltaic panels with a total area of over 4,000 square metres, which will make it self-sufficient in terms of energy and enable the sale of surplus electricity to the grid.

According to Innocenzo Grazioso from the Forum Ambiente e Salute in Lecce, the decision not to use a similar solution at Stadio Ettore Giardiniero is a missed opportunity. The region, which prides itself on the slogan Salento mare sole e jentu (Salento - sea, sun and wind), should have used its natural resources to produce renewable energy. Instead, the city authorities are focusing mainly on photovoltaics in agriculture, ignoring the potential of the roofs of public buildings.

It is not only the lack of solar panels that is causing concern among environmentalists. The organisations are also calling for the green areas around the stadium to be improved. Currently, most of the six-hectare area around the stadium is asphalt, which the activists believe could be used for planting trees and biodiversity. This would be particularly important in the context of the massive felling of olive trees in the region. In other Italian cities, such as Venice, there are plans to reforest the areas around new sports facilities. In the case of Lecce, this aspect has been completely overlooked.

© ParisTaras (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Is there still hope for change?

Another problem that has been pointed out by environmentalists is the lack of a coherent strategy between the various public institutions. Councillor Delli Noci announced that the Apulia region is preparing tenders to finance the energy autonomy of sports facilities, but the stadium in Lecce is not included in these plans. Activists have labelled this as another missed opportunity for modern and environmentally friendly solutions.

Despite numerous oversights, the city authorities and the commissioner for the 2026 Mediterranean Games, Massimo Ferrarese, do not rule out the possibility that certain adjustments may be made at a later date. Roberto Giordano Anguilla, the deputy mayor of Lecce, suggests the possibility of adding a photovoltaic system on the adjacent land and in the car parks around the stadium. However, the tight schedule remains a problem, as it does not allow for these changes to be made at this stage of construction.

© Vincenzo.togni (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Construction schedule under time pressure

The stadium project is currently being carried out at an express pace. The contractor is Techproject in collaboration with Mjw Structures and Shesa. The project, which originally planned for 90 days of preparation, is now expected to be completed in just 60 days.

The construction of the roof, which will be made of steel and PVC membrane, will begin in June or July 2025 and will take over a year. Importantly, the work will be carried out in stages while matches are still taking place at the stadium. This means that certain sections of the stands will be temporarily closed, which could reduce the number of available seats by 2,000 to 3,000. The internal renovation of the stadium will start in May 2025 and will be financed with public funds amounting to 11 million €. The renovation of the turf will start in May 2025.