The city of Naples is accelerating the process of reopening the third ring of the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, which was closed 20 years ago due to vibrations that affected nearby buildings.

Will the third ring reopen this year?

Currently, the final technical tests are underway, which are necessary to develop an analysis that will determine the possibility of reopening the third ring. The dossier will be presented by the end of April. The works are being supervised by the Councillor for Infrastructure and Public Works, Edoardo Cosenza, who posts photos of the studies on his social media channels.

Currently, the Stadio Maradona has a capacity of over 54,000 spectators. The third ring was closed due to vibration issues that disturbed the residents of nearby buildings. However, new technologies, according to the authorities of the city of Naples, the owner of the stadium, could eliminate this problem. After the third ring reopens, the stadium could increase its capacity, which is one of the requirements set by UEFA to host the 2032 European Championship, potentially allowing the stadium to officially apply for a place among Italy’s five selected venues. Cosenza remains cautious about this matter: Stadio Maradona and new technologies – he writes on Facebook – Drones and thermography. For now: don't ask why. We'll explain everything later...

The idea of reopening the third ring has been discussed for some time. Mayor Manfredi, also an engineer, mentioned it in 2023. The city of Naples, as reported by Fanpage.it, has long considered the possibility of increasing the stadium’s capacity. Two solutions were considered at that time: reopening the third ring or extending the seats all the way to the edge of the pitch. The first option could be realized immediately with minimal impact on the structure if the analysis results are positive. In that case, the third ring could be reopened by the start of the 2025/2026 season. For the second option, finding sources of funding for the project is crucial. Ultimately, the stadium could accommodate around 68,000-70,000 spectators.

© Gaetano Capaldo

Meeting the Euro deadline…

To meet the UEFA deadlines for the European Championship, it is crucial to begin the works soon. The goal is to submit projects by autumn 2025 and start construction by 2027. The Minister of Sport, Andrea Abodi, has announced plans to appoint an extraordinary commissioner for stadiums to speed up the procedures and ensure the schedule is met. A working meeting is also planned between De Laurentiis, Mayor Manfredi, and the relevant ministers to finalize the operational details of the project.