Football
9y

Roma present stadium plans to city council

Three-time Serie A champion Roma are moving ahead with an ambitious €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) plan for a new, privately financed stadium and surrounding business and entertainment center on the city's outskirts.

Pending government approval, construction will begin by December and last up to two years, the club's American president James Pallotta announced on Monday as he handed over a detailed dossier on the project to city authorities.

A 60,000-capacity arena will be built on land between the city and Fiumicino airport, just as long as the Region of Lazio approve the plans. Pallotta hopes that will happen swiftly to enable work to commence within six months.

"We would then need a further 22 to 24 months to complete all the infrastructure," Pallotta said at a news conference in the Italian capital on Monday. "This stadium is going to be an important structure for decades to come in Italy.

"This project is important for the whole of Italy because the world needs to see that this is a place where you can invest. Rome needs to get a move on. We want to gift Rome and Roma fans a structure that they deserve."

Pallotta is convinced sponsors will be found to help fund the building of the new stadium, confirming that the City of Rome and Region of Lazio will not have to spend a cent on its construction.

"Roma will be the owners of this stadium through a holding company," Pallotta explained. "This was the only way to finance it. All of the revenue will go to the club for all of its activities. In just one year, the revenue is going to grow notably.

"If we want to compete to become one of the world's top clubs, then we need to own our own stadium."

Pallotta added that he does not expect there to be any further delays in the stadium's construction, which might just give Francesco Totti the opportunity to play in a ground he is branding "our modern colosseum."

"We're going to have a stadium which represents Roma all over the world, as our history deserves," said the 38-year-old, who will be 40 once the stadium is ready. "Roma, our city, deserves to have a stadium like this.

"It's going to be Roma's home. You've got to love Roma because they are unique. Roma is always in our hearts." Even Serie A rivals Juventus have sent their best wishes to the Giallorossi for the realisation of their project.

"Jim, good luck to you!" wrote Juve president Andrea Agnelli on asroma.it. "It's an ambitious project which will enrich not only Rome, but the whole of Italian football. I can't wait for Juve to be able to go there to beat you!"

Juventus were the last club in Italy to build their own stadium, although Udinese are close to completing theirs. Since moving into the Juventus Stadium in 2011, the Bianconeri have won the Italian Serie A title four seasons in a row, losing only a handful of games.

Roma's project is now to be verified by the city council before being discussed at region level. The final green light for the start of work is expected within a few months.

"I wouldn't say the bureaucracy has been all that bad," added Pallotta. "I'm certain they will respect the predicted timeframe."

^ Back to Top ^