Shop
Three years after the plans were first unveiled, Stadio della Roma was finally approved by the four main governing bodies in Rome on what could turn out to be a historic day for both the club and the city…
Francesco Costa / @francescocosta: “I was hopeful, yes, but I wouldn't say confident, not so much because I distrusted the Marino and Raggi administrations particularly – in different ways they both contributed to the Stadio della Roma project – but because we all knew it would be a long and tortuous path with setbacks possible. Rome and Italy are not the easiest of places to get such an ambitious project off the ground. You only need to look at how many modern facilities there are for Italian football teams to play in – hardly any. What made the difference was the club's professional approach in putting together a responsible plan that is beneficial to the whole city, not just the Roma fans.”
Bren / @BrenCdT: “Was I confident it would get approved? No, not at all and it was a shame because the design is so beautiful, but every bit of good news was seemingly waylaid by some sort of bureaucratic mechanism. I’m thankful that Roma (the club) remained flexible yet determined in their desire to get this thing off the ground, or rather, in the ground!”
Daniele Trombetta / @Dtrombetta87: "The stadium approval process once again highlighted the bureaucratic issues at play in Italy when it comes to this kind of project. And despite initial confidence that everything would be resolved quickly, the reality proved very different – to the extent that we began to think it wouldn’t get done. Thankfully, the tenacity, flexibility and patience of the investors saw it through, despite the project undergoing several changes from its initial form.”
John Solano / @Solano_56: “I was not always confident [about the approval], but I always had a small glimmer of hope that it would ultimately get approved. The stadium was always a benefit not only to Roma, but to the city of Rome.”
@francescocosta: “The positive impact on the city was worked out by serious, unbiased organisations. It's an investment worth hundreds of millions of euros that will create jobs and give back to Rome an area of the city which is no man's land at the moment. It will also pave the way for lots of other projects and infrastructure. By way of example, Milan’s revival over the past ten years has been closely linked to the construction of high-quality new buildings and facilities in the international mould. It can have a positive chain reaction on lots of sectors away from football too. In terms of clubs, just look at what Juventus have done or have a glance at the balance sheets of teams in the Premier League.”
Wayne Girard / @WayneinRome: “For the players, they’ll have their fans – the best fans in the world – right next to them. Creating such an intimate atmosphere can only help to spur on the players. With sole custody of a stadium, purposely built for football, the bond will strengthen between the club and its fans. In the offseason and on non-match days, fans will still be able to enjoy the complex for entertainment, eating and shopping. It will be a cultural centre. The stadium will put Rome centre stage in world football. It will be one of the most desirable destinations for hosting major football events such as the Champions League or World Cup final.”
@Dtrombetta87: "It will give the club a massive boost both economically and in terms of its image. Owning your own stadium – with all the associated infrastructure that comes with that – has become a must when it comes to increasing revenues and boosting club standing. It will inevitably bring big benefits to the city, which will get new transport infrastructure, a large regenerated area and a more dynamic economy.”
@Solano_56: “I think it will have an enormous impact. The benefits of owning your own stadium are obvious and having a stadium that can host various events can only help catapult the city of Rome to the top.”
“Having our own stadium will enable us to pick up more points and strengthen the team year on year. The stadium will be a line in the sand – the history of our club will be split into before and after the stadium.”
- Francesco Costa
@BrenCdT: “Based on aesthetics alone, this is a win. Removing that running track and bringing the fans closer to the pitch will create a livelier atmosphere, while the simple fact that Roma will own the stadium should provide a tremendous financial benefit in terms of advertising and matchday revenue, and who knows, it may even play host to some Euro or World Cup matches one day. If all goes according to plan, this could be a game changer for the club, one that will allow them to truly compete with the upper echelon of European clubs.”
@WayneinRome: “Being next to the field, without the running track, it’s going to be electrifying inside.”
@Dtrombetta87: "The best thing about the stadium is that it will give Roma a home of their own, while the fans get a fortress where they can cheer on the team, with a smaller distance between the stands and the pitch (the importance of which should not be understated). On top of that, the club will open up a new revenue stream which can be reinvested for the benefit of Roma."
@Solano_56: “The stands at the Olimpico are too far back from the pitch so with the fans being closer, surely the atmosphere will be sensational.”
Andrea Cardoni / @andrecardoni: “I hope that compared to the Olimpico, the passion of the fans and their ability to do wonderful things to inspire the players wearing that shirt – perhaps in those moments of the game when you feel something is about to happen (‘we can do it!’) – should be better-harnessed. Also the way their encouragement is heard now in such a dispersive structure like the Olimpico, perhaps with a better set-up and potentially a better view of the match, the fans can make that encouragement of the players even louder.”
@BrenCdT: “The best thing about the new stadium? Getting rid of that running track! Don’t get me wrong, I’m a runner, but it has no business by a football pitch. On a serious note, just knowing that we will have our own ground - one that hopefully will be inhospitable to visiting clubs - could be huge boost for Roma.”
@francescocosta: “There are lots and lots but if I have to pick one, I’ll go with this one – it might seem a bit abstract but it kind of sums it all up - it will give us a real awareness of our new status as a club. As well as making us better on the pitch, it will give us more mental strength too – and that doesn’t just go for the team but for everything around the club, the fans and perhaps even the press too. It will take away the excuses and the unfortunate "never going to win" mentality. There’s no way we’ll be able to think that at the Stadio della Roma. It will force us to live up to the standard of the stadium.”
Imperium Partners
Centurion Partners
