Stadium Industry Updates - 13 August 2024
Lecce wants to redevelop Via Del Mare, Inter and AC Milan weigh San Siro Purchase or Redevelopment, Twickenham stadium to be rebranded as Allianz Stadium, Brentford unveils Gtech Community Garden and much more in our latest stadium industry updates.
U.S. Lecce wants to redevelop Via del Mare
U.S. Lecce's plan to redevelop Stadio Via del Mare has received a significant boost following the approval of a funding package linked to the 2026 Mediterranean Games. The Italian Serie A club can now move forward with extensive renovations to their stadium, which has been their home since its opening in 1966 and currently holds 31,461 spectators. The redevelopment is being facilitated by a decree that approved the second phase of infrastructure works needed for the Mediterranean Games, which will be hosted in nearby Taranto. The initial decree in April allocated €168m for the event, with €11m earmarked for Via del Mare. The recent approval of an additional €107m in funding includes a further €25m specifically for the stadium. The planned renovations will focus on modernising the stadium, with a key aspect being the installation of a roof to fully cover the seating areas. This development marks a significant upgrade for the venue, ensuring it meets modern standards and enhances the experience for fans and participants alike.
San Siro purchase or redevelopment under consideration by Inter and AC Milan
Inter Milan and AC Milan are considering purchasing or redeveloping Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, also known as San Siro, according to the Municipality of Milan. The clubs, with the help of technical and legal advisors, are exploring either buying the stadium outright or securing its operating rights, marking a potential shift in their long-running efforts for a new stadium. Milan’s Mayor, Giuseppe Sala, received an update from the clubs, indicating their interest in redevelopment proposals. A meeting is set for the second week of September to discuss these options further. This follows a June proposal from Italian construction firm Webuild to modernise the Meazza by demolishing its first and third tiers. Webuild was commissioned in February to study the feasibility of keeping the Serie A giants at their historic home. The situation became more complex after the Municipality lost an appeal in May against protected status restrictions on the stadium, which blocked initial plans for demolition. Previously, both clubs had shifted focus to separate stadium projects in different areas, AC Milan in San Donato Milanese and Inter in Rozzan, but are now reconsidering staying at San Siro.
Twickenham stadium to be rebranded as Allianz Stadium in landmark deal
Twickenham Stadium, the historic home of English rugby, will be rebranded as Allianz Stadium following a significant agreement between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and German insurance giant Allianz. The deal, reportedly valued at around £100m over 10 years, aligns with a major redevelopment plan for the 82,000-capacity venue. The redevelopment will involve a complete reprofiling of the stadium's lower tier, with work scheduled to begin after the 2027 Six Nations. The renovations aim to modernise the venue, reducing its capacity slightly from 82,500 to a minimum of 80,000 and is expected to be completed by 2031.
In addition to the rebranding, the partnership will see Allianz and the RFU invest in grassroots rugby, ensuring financial support for community-level development. Twickenham, which has been the home of England's national rugby team since 1910, will officially adopt the Allianz Stadium name from September, in time for this year’s Autumn Internationals and the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. This rebranding marks the eighth such stadium sponsorship for Allianz, joining other major venues like Allianz Arena in Munich, The Allianz stadium in Turin and the recently reopened Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
Brentford FC unveils Gtech Community Garden to enhance sustainability
Brentford FC has introduced the Gtech Community Garden at its Gtech Community Stadium, creating a green space for fans and locals. Located near the west stand, this garden supports the club’s environmental efforts and community engagement. The garden, developed with Gtech and designed by Cultivate London, features around 25 plant species including wildflowers and herbs. It also incorporates repurposed floodlights from Brentford’s old Griffin Park stadium and will soon add an apple tree. A solitary beehive supports the declining bee population, in line with Brentford’s nickname ‘The Bees’. Planted with help from the club’s sustainability working group, which includes fans from Bees United, Brentford Independent Association of Supporters (BIAS) and the Sustaina-Bess. The garden aims to attract pollinators and enhance local biodiversity. Brentford’s sustainability manager, James Beale, highlighted the project’s community and environmental impact, saying, “We are excited to transform this space into a garden that everyone can enjoy”.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Key Statistics and Milestones
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games concluded just two days ago, leaving behind a trail of remarkable achievements and interesting statistics. One of the standout successes was in gender equality, with 28 out of the 32 sports achieving full parity between male and female athletes. Additionally, women made up 50% of the volunteer workforce, highlighting the Games' commitment to inclusivity.
Ticket sales were a resounding success, with over 9.5 million of the 10 million available tickets sold. The Games also set new records in digital engagement, with the Olympic social media channels experiencing over 12 billion engagements, more than double that of Tokyo 2020. Paris 2024 also saw a surge in new followers, with 32m people joining Olympic social media platforms, more than tripling the growth seen during the previous Games. The Olympic website and app usage reached unprecedented levels, engaging approximately 300 million people, making it the most accessed digital platform in Olympic history. The Olympic app became the number one sports app in over 70 countries and the top overall app in key markets, including the USA, France, and Italy.
Paris 2024 also made significant strides in sustainability, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 50% compared to the averages of London 2012 and Rio 2016. An impressive 95% of the venues used were either existing or temporary, and all were accessible by public transport. Furthermore, 90% of the equipment and goods used during the Games are set to have a second life. The Olympic Village, constructed with 30% less carbon than a typical French development, will now serve as a new eco-friendly residential and business district, providing 2,800 apartments, 25% of which will be designated as social housing. The Games also saw several attendance records shattered. Basketball drew 1,078,319 fans to the Women's and Men's Olympic Tournaments, surpassing the previous record set at Atlanta 1996 despite featuring 40 fewer matches. Additional attendance records included over 530,000 spectators for Rugby 7s, nearly 500,000 for Handball and nearly 450,000 for Beach Volleyball.
These achievements reflect Paris 2024's success in combining sports excellence with sustainability, inclusivity and digital innovation, setting a new standard for future Olympic Games.
FIGC urges stadium investment following record revenues and attendance
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has renewed calls for investment in Italy’s aging stadium infrastructure following record-breaking revenue and attendance figures for the 2022-23 season. According to the latest ReportCalcio, produced in partnership with PwC and AREL, Italian football generated €4.251bn, up from €3.43bn the previous year. Despite rising costs, net losses dropped from €1.364bn to €864m. The revenue surge was largely driven by a significant increase in matchday income, which nearly doubled as stadiums fully reopened post-COVID-19. Serie A attendance reached a record high of nearly 11.2m, marking a 64% increase from the previous season and a 22% rise from 2018-19. The average attendance per match rose from 24,106 to 29,371 spectators, filling capacity from 63% to 79% and the number of unsold seats decreased from 5.4 to 2.9m.
However, the FIGC warned that the outdated state of Italy’s stadiums, with an average age of 66 years, remains a critical issue. Only 17% of Serie A stadiums use renewable energy. The FIGC emphasized the urgent need to modernize Italy's stadiums, particularly with the upcoming co-hosting of UEFA Euro 2032. Italy has significantly fallen behind other European nations in stadium development, constructing just five new stadiums between 2007 and 2023, while countries like Turkey and Poland have built 33 and 35 new stadiums, respectively. Current plans for 18 new projects are expected to inject €3bn into the economy, create 14,000 jobs and generate €2.5bn in additional tax revenue.
Manchester United considers future stadium options and naming rights
Manchester United is evaluating plans that could reduce Old Trafford’s capacity to 30,000 for women’s and youth games if a new 100,000-seat stadium is built. This new venue, estimated to cost around £2bn and take six years to complete, would potentially be constructed on adjacent land. Old Trafford would be repurposed for the club’s women’s team, currently based 15 miles away in Leigh. Minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is pushing for a decision on the club’s future venue by December 2024 with both options, building a new stadium or redeveloping Old Trafford, under consideration.
Additionally, Snapdragon, Manchester United's shirt sponsor, is interested in acquiring naming rights for either Old Trafford or the new stadium. The American tech firm, which has a €205m shirt sponsorship deal with the club, is optimistic about securing this opportunity. Snapdragon’s chief marketing officer, Don McGuire, is hopeful despite the club’s historical reluctance to sell naming rights.
Everton FC partners with Aramark in major commercial deal for new stadium
Everton Football Club has secured one of its largest commercial deals with food and drink service provider Aramark. As part of the agreement, Aramark will be named the founding partner of Everton's new 52,888-capacity stadium, set to open for the 2025-26 season. While the financial details of the partnership are undisclosed, it is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the community, including the creation of approximately 1,200 jobs. Aramark will implement advanced technology to streamline service and enhance fan experience including reducing waiting times, featuring self-service beer systems, food and beverage options and kitchen collection points. The company will collaborate with Everton to design adaptable and seasonal food and drink offerings. Aramark's chief executive and president for the UK, Helen Milligan-Smith, expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating, “We are thrilled to be a Founding Partner and chosen as the Culinary Experiences Partner for Everton”.
Aramark has also recently extended its partnership with FC Barcelona, now investing in the club’s digital media division, Barça Vision. The American firm, already the club’s catering and hospitality provider, will also become the official catering partner for the future Spotify Camp Nou and the broader Espai Barça complex.
Anfield to host key Women's Super League matches for Liverpool FC Women in 2024-25
Anfield will feature three Women’s Super League fixtures for Liverpool FC Women during the 2024-25 season. The matches include clashes against Manchester City on October 13, Manchester United on March 16, and Everton on May 4, with all games kicking off at 2pm. In addition to these high-profile games at Anfield, Liverpool FC Women will continue to use their regular home, the Totally Wicked Stadium, which is also the venue for rugby league club St Helens. The decision to hold more women’s matches at Anfield follows the success of last season’s Merseyside derby, which drew over 23,000 fans. Ticket sales for these fixtures will open to the public tomorrow at 2pm and will be available until October 4.