Stadium Industry Update - 19 September 2023
AC and Inter Milan progress with stadium plans, Zaragoza faces challenges in redevelopment, Parma presses forward with Tardini rebuild and much more in our latest stadium industry updates!
AC Milan selects Manica for new stadium design
AC Milan has selected Manica Architecture as the designer of the Italian Serie A football club’s proposed new stadium in San Donato, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The newspaper said that Manica would work alongside CAA Icon and the latter’s founder, Tim Romani, who assumed the lead role in overseeing the development in April. The parties worked together previously on the Allegiant Stadium and Chase Center stadium project in Las Vegas and San Francisco, respectively, and are also collaborating on a new stadium for the Tennessee Titans NFL American football franchise. Manica has reportedly beaten competition from 12 other companies for the contract, which also includes developments surrounding the new stadium in San Donato, which is located about 10km southwest of Milan.
Read more at: https://sempremilan.com/manica-proud-design-new-stadium-milan
Newcastle United releases fan zone renderings
Newcastle United has published computer-generated images of a proposed new fan zone next to the English Premier League football club’s St James’ Park stadium. Designs for ‘St James’ STACK, powered by Sela’ at Strawberry Place in the city were unveiled inside the Magpie Suite at the stadium as part of a public consultation event on Monday. Stack has opened several entertainment venues in the region, while Saudi Arabia-focused destination and experiences organisation Sela is already the club’s main shirt sponsor.
Read more at: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/st-james-park-stack-fanzone-27694708
Birmingham City appoints Mace to complete works to Tilton Lower and Kop Lower Stand
Birmingham City has appointed Mace as construction manager for the ongoing project to upgrade the lower Tilton and Kop stands at the English Championship football club’s St Andrew’s stadium. Mace, which was already part of the project team, is stepping into the role following the collapse of Buckingham Group into administration. The club, which is managing the St Andrew’s Master Redevelopment plan, will assume responsibility for the management of all sub-contractors working on the project, which is now expected to be completed before the end of November.
Read more at: https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/birmingham-city-appoints-mace-to-complete-works-to-tilton-lower-and-kop-lower-stand
Bitburger seals Euro 2024 stadium supplier deal
The Bitburger brewery has secured the right to provide drinks at all stadiums and fan zones related to Uefa Euro 2024 in Germany. Bitburger is already a national partner of the international football tournament, designated as the competition’s official beer. The deal was struck with Uefa, football’s European governing body. Fans will be able to enjoy a variety of Bitburger drinks in the venues, including non-alcoholic beer.
Legends in Talks for $1.85 Billion Private Credit Deal for ASM
Ares Management and KKR & Co are among a group of private credit firms that have held talks with Legends over providing a €1.72bn financing package to support the company’s potential acquisition of ASM Global, according to Bloomberg.
The group, which also includes Apollo Global Management and Oaktree Capital Management, would help to fund the takeover and refinance existing debt at both Legends and ASM, the report added.
Ares is reportedly acting as the administrative agent on the proposed transaction.
Parma to press forward with Tardini stadium rebuild
Italian Serie B football club Parma Calcio 1913 has presented “finalised” stadium redevelopment plans to the local authority. The project would cost €138m (£119m/$148m) and be financed entirely by the club, which currently sits in second place in the table and is hoping to win promotion back to the top tier this season. Under the plans, the Tardini stadium would be demolished and rebuilt “with the highest international standards”, the club said. Parma and design partner Studio Zoppini initially revealed redevelopment plans in April 2021, with the aim of transforming the Tardini into a multi-purpose facility. In January 2022, the club’s plans were approved by the Municipal Administration as a project of public interest.
Read more at: https://www.arcadis.com/en/projects/europe/italy/stadio-ennio-tardini
Inter presents Rozzano stadium plans to local Mayors
Italian Serie A football club Inter Milan has presented initial proposals for a new 70,000-capacity stadium to be built in the Rozzano commune to local political leaders. The meetings with the Mayors of Rozzano and the neighbouring municipality of Assago took place in a spirit of “availability and collaboration”, according to the club’s corporate CEO Alessandro Antonello. The presentations outlined how the stadium would be built on green space between Rozzano and Assago near the A7 motorway, which connects Milan and Genoa. The land, about 9km south of Milan’s city centre, is currently owned by real estate groups Brioschi and Bastogi through a company called Infrafin. Last month, Inter secured the exclusive right to carry out a feasibility study into the potential development of a stadium on the site. The club has until the end of April 2024 to study the possible project on the plot of land.
Read more at: https://sempreinter.com/2023/09/13/inter-milan-present-plans-new-stadium-rozzano/
Everton takeover to secure ‘complete financing’ for new stadium
Farhad Moshiri has agreed to sell his majority shareholding in Everton to US investment fund 777 Partners in a deal that secures “the complete financing” for the English Premier League club’s new stadium. The sale of Moshiri’s 94.1% stake is expected to be completed by the end of this year, subject to approvals from the Premier League, Football Association and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.
Read more at: https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2023/09/15/everton-takeover-secures-complete-financing-for-new-stadium/
Legal challenge halts Zaragoza stadium project
Spanish Segunda Division football club Real Zaragoza has scrapped plans to spearhead a proposed €140m redevelopment of the Estadio La Romareda – for the time being at least. The project, first unveiled in May, would have increased the stadium’s capacity to 42,500, with the club hoping that the venue will be included in Spain’s joint bid with Portugal to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. However, the project may still be rekindled by the local authority.
Read more at: http://stadiumdb.com/news/2023/09/spain_zaragozas_new_stadium_project_faces_challenges
Net Zero Carbon Strategy unveiled at Lord’s
Marylebone Cricket Club has unveiled a Net Zero Carbon Strategy, setting a goal of being carbon neutral by 2030 and producing net zero emissions by 2040, with a focus on the historic Lord’s ground. Various projects across Lord’s will help to achieve this target, as well as innovative tools like the Fan Footprint Calculator, which was launched at today’s one-day international between England and New Zealand. The club aims to become net zero through a range of measures, including undertaking a significant programme of degasification at Lord’s, and switching the use of remaining natural gas in the operation of the venue to renewable energy sources.