OWNED STADIUMS IN ITALY: CHALLENGE OR NECESSITY

Never before have football clubs been considered true businesses, where investment is now the keyword. Investments that are not only related to the sporting side but also, and especially, to the infrastructure outside the field, including stadiums.

In Italy, unlike other foreign countries, only five teams in the top tier own their stadium: Juventus, Udinese, Sassuolo, Frosinone, and Atalanta. The situation is completely different in England and Germany, where by 2016, 26 out of 38 teams already played in stadiums they owned. These off-field investments have indirectly influenced sports performance, as revenue streams are significantly higher compared to Italian clubs. Modern and welcoming stadiums, without barriers and with numerous attractions such as restaurants and museums, are the pride of the Bundesliga and Premier League, drawing thousands of spectators every weekend.

In contrast, the situation in Italy is decidedly negative, where outdated and dilapidated stadiums are more often the norm, leading to empty stands that reflect in the clubs’ financial statements. The most notable example in Italy of a modern stadium is Juventus’ Allianz Stadium, inaugurated in 2011 on the ruins of the Delle Alpi. The new stadium has brought nearly €600 million to the Turin club over seven years and has also revitalized the team’s performances, thanks in part to multi-million investments like those in Higuaín and Ronaldo. Following Juventus’ lead, Sassuolo, Udinese, and Frosinone also have their own stadiums: the Mapei Stadium, the Dacia Arena, and the Benito Stirpe, respectively in Reggio Emilia, Udine, and Frosinone.

Recently, Atalanta also purchased the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stadium from the Municipality of Bergamo for just under €9 million. The stadium will be renovated and modernized starting this year. The next teams likely to invest in modern facilities seem to be Bologna, with the restructuring of the Dall’Ara, planned within five years, and Fiorentina, though in this case, the Municipality of Florence still needs to give its final approval. The situation is more delicate in Rome, where, for years, the owner of Roma, Pallotta, has been in conflict with the city’s administration regarding the location and methods for a new stadium.

In such a delicate moment for Italian football, owning a stadium seems to be a necessary investment to increase revenues and revive enthusiasm around the field. The growth of a club passes through this: an inviting stadium, attractions available 7 days a week, spaces dedicated to families. It is a difficult challenge in Italy, but to relaunch the football movement, it currently seems to be the only viable path.

Credits to Andrea Parini