Venezia build commercial platform around Serie A return and stadium move
Venezia are expanding their commercial infrastructure around their return to Serie A, appointing Elevate to a broader operating role while combining fresh investment, a new stadium project and distinctly Venetian premium hospitality.
Venezia have expanded their relationship with Elevate by naming the US agency as their Agency Operating Partner, embedding external expertise across commercial strategy as the club seek to capitalise on their return to Serie A.Elevate’s remit now covers business strategy, hospitality, corporate partnerships and creative, while the agency will also lead partner discovery and sponsorship growth. It was originally appointed in April to support premium and sponsorship sales, creative and insights.Venezia president Francesca Bodie said: “Returning to Serie A is a moment of pride for our club and our supporters. We are partnering with Elevate to ensure we have the expertise and infrastructure in place to compete at the highest level – not just on the pitch, but across every aspect of our organisation.”The expanded relationship coincides with the launch of La Serenissima, Venezia’s first dedicated hospitality boat, turning the journey through the Venetian Lagoon to the island-based Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo into premium commercial inventory.The vessel has capacity for 75 guests per match, with dynamic pricing starting at €300 including a match ticket. Season-long packages are available, while the boat can also be hired for private events outside matchdays.A normal boat journey from San Marco to the stadium takes around 30 minutes, but La Serenissima extends the trip to roughly an hour, effectively monetising the journey itself as part of the matchday experience.Elevate designed the two-level vessel’s creative identity and interiors, connecting the product with Venezia’s wider positioning around football, fashion and the city’s cultural identity.The hospitality concept forms part of a broader commercial build-out following new investment into Venezia.An investment vehicle led by US sports executive Tim Leiweke and Bodie acquired a significant minority stake in May as part of a €100m fundraising conducted during 2025-26 to strengthen the club’s financial position. The wider investor group also included Canadian musician Drake.Venezia are simultaneously preparing for a major infrastructure shift after securing the contract to operate the new 18,500-seat stadium under construction within the Bosco dello Sport development in Tessera, targeted for completion in spring 2027.That combination of capital, external commercial expertise and future venue capacity gives the club several potential routes to grow revenue beyond the uplift generated by promotion itself.Elevate’s position is also notable because the agency is moving beyond conventional sponsorship sales into something closer to an embedded commercial operating function spanning strategy, hospitality, partnerships and creative.La Serenissima provides the most visible expression of that approach, converting Venezia’s unusual geography from a logistical constraint into limited premium inventory that rival clubs cannot easily replicate.The next major step will be the club’s move towards the new Tessera stadium, which should materially expand the platform available for hospitality, sponsorship and other commercial growth from 2027.