Bologna and Verona advance €600m stadium plans

Bologna and Hellas Verona have taken significant steps towards new stadium developments, with both projects designed to diversify club revenues through hospitality and year-round events while targeting completion ahead of UEFA EURO 2032.Bologna have reached an agreement with exhibition operator BolognaFiere for a €300m development, while Verona have submitted their nearly €300m proposal to the municipality for assessment, with both projects still requiring further development and authorisation.Bologna chief executive Claudio Fenucci said: “This is an important first step towards the objective of building a modern, multifunctional stadium capable of enabling Bologna to generate resources over time to support greater sporting competitiveness.“The proposed design envisages a venue with high standards of quality, offering spectators, alongside the excitement of watching a match live, a complete experience in terms of digital technology and hospitality.”Bologna’s proposed 35,000-seat stadium would include a retractable roof and movable pitch, allowing the central arena to accommodate concerts, exhibitions, conferences and other major events alongside football.The venue would occupy the northern section of the BolognaFiere district, with planned access through motorway and rail connections, nearby ring-road exits, the new tram network and substantial parking provision.Architect Eloy Suárez of Studio SHESA and Massimo Majowiecki of MJW Structures have developed the initial design, with completion targeted for spring 2031 so Bologna can begin playing there in the 2031–32 season.Fenucci continued: “It will not simply be a venue intended for football, because its multifunctional character will make it a unique asset for the city, capable of attracting international interest across sporting, exhibition, musical and cultural activities.“It is a significant investment and, alongside the commitment of BolognaFiere and Joey Saputo, it will require the participation of investors who share the same vision for the city’s development.”The proposal will be submitted to the Italian Football Federation as part of the applicable process, with BolognaFiere positioning the stadium within a wider district combining exhibitions, conferences, sport and entertainment.BolognaFiere president Gianpiero Calzolari added: “We are aware of the scale and complexity of the project and precisely for that reason we want to approach it with great seriousness, responsibility and attention to its economic and practical sustainability.“The new stadium must be infrastructure that serves Bologna FC and their supporters, but also an asset for Bologna: a place that is active throughout the year, integrated with the exhibition district and capable of expanding the city’s opportunities in sport, music and major events.”Verona’s proposal would replace the existing Bentegodi with a 30,000-seat stadium on the same site, following an assessment of alternatives including renovation, retaining the current venue and relocation elsewhere in the city.The club have submitted their Feasibility Document for Project Alternatives, formally initiating the process under Italy’s Stadium Law, with the municipality now assessing the development.Verona said: “The project is designed to make the stadium an integral part of the life of the city, rather than a venue used primarily on matchdays.“Restaurants, retail, corporate events, concerts, and other activities would create a year-round destination, bringing people to the area throughout the week and extending the stadium’s economic and social impact well beyond the football calendar.”Funding is expected to come primarily from the club’s ownership, alongside public participation in certain elements, with completion targeted for the 2031–32 season subject to approvals and subsequent development stages.The approximately three-year construction programme would require temporary expansion of the Olivieri facility in Via Sogare, enabling Verona to remain in the city while ultimately creating a four-pitch network for youth and women’s football.Verona continued: “Beyond traditional matchday revenues, the venue would enable the Club to develop new and diversified revenue streams through hospitality, sponsorship, non-football events, the Club museum, and stadium tours.“This broader and more resilient revenue base would strengthen the Club’s financial sustainability and support its long-term sporting competitiveness.”