Napoli approaches a new era with a state-of-the-art stadium and training center
Amman2 min read
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The president and owner of Napoli Football Club, Aurelio De Laurentiis, wishes to build a new stadium to replace the old Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, which local authorities plan to renovate in hopes of hosting UEFA Euro 2032 matches.
De Laurentiis explained on Wednesday evening, while receiving a prestigious award from the Foreign Press Association in Rome, "We have identified a 38-hectare plot of land in eastern Naples. I intend to build a stadium with a capacity of 70,000 spectators, with 120 VIP boxes, restaurants, and all other facilities."
The businessman and film producer continued, "The stadium will also include an interactive museum, designed by my team in Los Angeles. It will be possible to play virtual football with any player you wish, such as Maradona, (Uruguayan Edinson) Cavani, and (Argentine Gonzalo) Higuain."
He added, "Completing all of this might take 24 months, and I will not ask for funding from anyone."
The Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, built in 1959 and formerly known as the San Paolo Stadium until 2020, which is owned by the city of Naples and leased to the club for match days, is considered one of the worst stadiums in the Italian league. Its stands are separated from the pitch by a running track, and its concrete structure, which holds 60,000 spectators, is far from modern standards.
De Laurentiis said, "The Maradona stadium must be demolished to build new housing for the city. Local authorities want to invest 200 million euros to modernize it, but with that amount, they will only make superficial improvements."
The owner of the southern club also announced that he will establish a new training center to replace the current one in Castel Volturno, which faces widespread criticism.
The 77-year-old De Laurentiis added, "We found a seventeen-and-a-half-hectare space in Qualiano: we will build ten football pitches and buildings covering 7,500 square meters, including offices and changing rooms for the first team and youth teams."
Napoli, which won the league title for the fourth time in its history in 2025 and was runner-up to Inter last season, began the current season faltering under its new coach Massimiliano Allegri, as it sits in ninth place with seven points after five matches.
