The renovation of Via del Mare in Lecce has officially begun. It is the largest sports investment in the city in decades and a key part of preparations for the Mediterranean Games. The plan is to carry out the work while matches continue to be played at the venue.

Symbolic start of works

The first phase of the renovation at Stadio Via del Mare was inaugurated earlier this week. The event was attended by US Lecce president Saverio Sticchi Damiani, deputy mayor of Lecce Roberto Giordano Anguilla, and Mediterranean Games commissioner Massimo Ferrarese. The work begins just under a year before the Games kick off in Taranto and several other cities in the region, including Lecce.

The first stage of the work has begun. We are thrilled — it's a great moment for all of us and for the sporting heritage of Lecce, said Sticchi Damiani.

The €11.3 million contract for the first phase was awarded to Seli Manutenzioni Generali srl and Hana srl. It includes structural reinforcement of the stadium, waterproofing of the stairs, maintenance of the east stand and upper tier, as well as modernization of architectural elements. This stage will take about ten months.

Roofing as the second phase

Although the initial project covered only structural upgrades, decisions by the Italian government made it possible to expand the work to include new roofing for the stands.

When we were finalizing the first phase of the project, the government allowed us to complete an equally important phase. We received funding for a second stage, which involves covering the stadium with a roof — this turned the renovation into a comprehensive project, explained Ferrarese.

The tender for the roofing will be launched soon. Construction is set to begin in September 2025, with works designed not to disrupt US Lecce's fixtures. The first roof structures are expected to be installed in early 2026, and the full roofing should be completed by the end of July.

© ParisTaras (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Works during the season

One of the biggest challenges engineers face is carrying out the works while the stadium remains in use. For the first time, all of this is happening during matches. We can’t afford to lose a single day, noted Ferrarese.

Therefore, the area under construction will never exceed 3,500 seats, allowing fans to use the stadium safely and the team to continue playing home games there.

The order of construction phases will be west, east, south, then north. According to the design, the roof will use a cable-supported system with flexible membranes, a solution also seen at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Modern lighting and savings

As the new roof is built, the current floodlight towers will be dismantled. Their role will be taken over by lighting systems mounted directly on the roof structure. The new lighting will be much stronger than the existing one, confirmed engineer Scarcelli.

Importantly, the entire operation is expected to stay within budget. The money is there — we have it in the bank. We will work safely and hope to save a bit thanks to discounts. Lecce deserves all of this, emphasized Ferrarese.

© Robert Saganowski, Stadiony.net

Once-in-a-lifetime investment

Both the city authorities and the club stress that the Via del Mare renovation project is a unique and unrepeatable opportunity. It must be understood that this is a one-off project. The government won’t replicate it anywhere else — not even for the upcoming European Championships. There will be no other new stadiums in Italy, only this exceptional project, said commissioner Ferrarese.

Lecce's deputy mayor Roberto Giordano Anguilla acknowledged the effort by both national and local institutions and thanked Minister for European Affairs and Cohesion Policy Raffaele Fitto, who helped finalize the investment.

The entire undertaking is being crowned by close collaboration between the club and local government. We submitted the feasibility study to the municipality, and that’s when a remarkable synergy began. The fans understood it’s a unique chance and are rewarding us by buying season tickets, said club president Sticchi Damiani.