Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is engaged in a challenging quest to secure a new stadium for the club. The current Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, formerly known as San Paolo, is showing its age at 65 years old and is no longer fit for purpose despite a €25 million facelift for the 2019 Universiade.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report how De Laurentiis has been exploring various options, from a new stadium on the waterfront to potential sites in Bagnoli, Afragola, Caserta, Acerra, and East Naples. However, these plans remain in the realm of imagination, with no concrete steps taken towards construction.
The club president’s latest strategy involves purchasing and renovating the existing Maradona stadium. De Laurentiis envisions transforming it into a modern, multi-purpose venue with commercial areas, interactive spaces, restaurants, and a museum. He argues this would relieve the city of a financial burden while providing a state-of-the-art facility for the upcoming European Championships.
However, the proposal has met resistance from city officials. The local government insists the stadium is not for sale, setting the stage for a contentious battle between the club and the municipality.
The Maradona stadium has a rich history, once boasting a capacity of 85,012. Over the years, renovations and safety measures have reduced this to 54,732, a far cry from its former glory. De Laurentiis has previously floated ideas ranging from an exclusive 25,000-seat arena to ambitious plans for a waterfront stadium with boat access.
As negotiations continue, the future of Napoli’s home ground remains uncertain. De Laurentiis has hinted at the possibility of looking elsewhere if an agreement cannot be reached, highlighting the urgency of the situation for the club and its supporters.
