Hellas Verona appoint Gensler for new Bentegodi stadium plan
Hellas Verona have appointed Gensler as lead architect for a proposed replacement of the Bentegodi as the club and owner Presidio Investors push a long-term venue plan despite relegation to Serie B.
Hellas Verona have selected Gensler to lead the architectural design of a proposed new stadium on the site of the club’s current home, the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.The appointment is a key step in a venue strategy that is intended to modernise matchday revenue potential, premium inventory and non-football event use in a city competing for major tournament hosting.The club submitted a feasibility study to the Municipality of Verona in November 2025, setting the project up as a multi-year development process involving the city administration and national government stakeholders.Gensler will work alongside Sportium and Arup, with Colliers acting as project manager, in a structure designed to pair international stadium experience with Italian regulatory and delivery expertise.Presidio Investors managing director Dirk Swaneveld said: “This announcement reflects our long-term commitment to the fans, the club and the city.“It represents a significant step toward shaping the future of Hellas Verona by delivering a venue of the highest international standards – a home that our supporters and the entire Verona community can be proud of.”The stadium plan is being advanced with HV1903, a wholly owned subsidiary created by the club to explore development opportunities linked to the new facility.The initiative has taken on greater commercial significance after Hellas Verona were relegated earlier this month, increasing the importance of resilient matchday and events income that is less dependent on top-flight media distributions.The club said it intends to engage fans, local residents and businesses through focus groups and surveys as the project develops, signalling a stakeholder-led approach aimed at smoothing approvals and aligning the venue with local needs.Hellas Verona also said it continues to view UEFA Euro 2032 as an opportunity for Verona, while stressing that the stadium project is not dependent on the tournament.Italy and Turkey are set to co-host UEFA EURO 2032, with Italian cities effectively competing for a limited number of host slots and using stadium projects to strengthen their candidacies.The Bentegodi is owned by the Municipality and opened in 1963, with the last major improvement programme completed ahead of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.Replacing or comprehensively redeveloping the venue would give Hellas Verona a more modern operating platform, typically associated with higher per-cap spend, improved hospitality yields and better sponsor servicing.The next steps are expected to focus on design development and alignment with municipal requirements, with the feasibility work now moving into a longer phase of approvals, financing structure and delivery planning.