Bologna has officially suspended the renovation project of Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, withdrawing €40 million in public funding. After a decade of planning, rising costs and incomplete documentation, the future of the historic stadium is now uncertain, with the possibility of building a new venue entering the discussion.

€40 million in public funds withdrawn from the Dall’Ara project

The Bologna City Council, led by Mayor Matteo Lepore, has formally withdrawn the €40 million previously earmarked for the renovation of Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. The decision was approved through a resolution concerning the private initiative project for the restructuring and modernization of Renato Dall’Ara, which officially acknowledged the inability to complete the procedure within a foreseeable timeframe.

The primary reason for suspending the process was incomplete documentation submitted by the private entity involved. According to the resolution, key documents remain outstanding, including an updated investment cost estimate, an approved financial and economic plan, and a draft concession agreement accompanied by a risk analysis.

The municipality stressed that without these elements it cannot issue a final opinion on the project. Although a partial verification of documentation concluded with a formal report in July 2025, the procedure could not be finalized due to unresolved formal deficiencies. The resolution also noted that too much time had elapsed since the launch of the process, and the failure to provide required updates within established deadlines makes it impossible to continue under the current framework.

© Bologna FC, GAU Arena | The project involved significantly reducing the stadium's capacity and modernizing it.

Torre di Maratona and structural concerns complicate the project

An additional complication emerged regarding the Torre di Maratona, the iconic tower of Stadio Dall’Ara, which is protected as a historical landmark. During the design phase, it became clear that further analysis and interventions would be required to adapt the structure to modern seismic standards.

The lack of a fully developed seismic upgrade plan for this element became a significant point of contention. Combined with rising construction costs, the issue further delayed the decision-making process and added uncertainty to the overall feasibility of the renovation.

Temporary stadium proposal fails to unlock progress

As part of the broader plan, the construction of a temporary stadium on municipally owned land near the former Asam area, close to FICO, was also considered. The facility would have hosted Bologna FC during renovation works at Dall’Ara.

This proposal was formally submitted in July 2022 as an addition to the original redevelopment concept. It envisioned the club playing Serie A matches away from the historic stadium during construction. Ultimately, however, this alternative did not lead to a breakthrough in advancing the project.

© Modern Coliseum | The Bologna stadium is one of the oldest facilities in Italy that needs modernisation.

A decade of plans and escalating costs

The stadium redevelopment initiative began approximately ten years ago with a proposal from a company controlled by club owner Joey Saputo. The plan initially envisioned an investment of around €100 million from Bologna FC 1909 and €40 million in public funding, while preserving municipal ownership of the stadium.

The original concept included a comprehensive modernization: bringing the stands closer to the pitch, installing a full roof, improving spectator comfort and redeveloping the surrounding areas, including new parking facilities near the auxiliary stadium. The target capacity of Dall’Ara was set at 30,325 seats.

In subsequent years, however, the project encountered growing financial difficulties. Rising construction material prices and inflation pushed the estimated total cost to approximately €230 million—well beyond the club’s financial capacity to shoulder alone.

A new stadium elsewhere in Bologna?

In recent days, Mayor Matteo Lepore has suggested the possibility of building a new Bologna FC stadium in another part of the city, provided the project does not involve agricultural land and fits within a broader urban regeneration plan.

Meanwhile, club CEO Claudio Fenucci emphasized that at current cost levels, Bologna FC cannot act as the primary investor. The club remains willing to contribute capital—previously discussed at around €100 million—but expects stronger leadership and coordination from the municipality to move the project forward.