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De Laurentiis Calls Maradona Stadium a 'Dump,' Demands 70,000-Seat, Club-Controlled Home

He argues municipal control restricts access as well as revenue, making a privately run stadium essential for competitiveness.

Soccer Football - Serie A - Napoli v Cagliari - Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy - May 23, 2025 Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis celebrates after winning Serie A REUTERS/Matteo Ciambelli

Overview

  • Speaking at SDA Bocconi in Milan, the Napoli president denounced the city-owned Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and said the club lacks meaningful control over the venue.
  • He cited a matchday gap, saying AC Milan and Inter can make about €14 million on Champions League nights versus roughly €3 million for Napoli at the Maradona.
  • He outlined a new privately run stadium with about 70,000 seats, around 120 skyboxes, 8,000 parking spaces and a 30-hectare footprint, adding the club would finance the project.
  • He said renovating the current ground would take around six years, close sections and further cut income, noting the athletics track and moat push supporters away from the pitch.
  • He blamed political bureaucracy for blocking progress and contrasted Napoli’s three-day stadium access with PSG’s exclusive-use model exceeding €100 million a year, while no agreement with city authorities has been announced.