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Napoli's De Laurentiis Calls Maradona Stadium a Dump, Presses for New 70,000-Seat Arena

He says city control with a track-ringed design makes renovation unworkable.

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

  • He used a Bocconi forum to denounce the municipally owned ground, describing the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as a “dump.”
  • He contrasted matchday earnings by citing up to €14 million per Champions League date for Milan’s clubs versus roughly €3 million at Napoli’s current venue.
  • He outlined a privately financed project targeting 70,000 seats, roughly 100–120 skyboxes, 8,000 parking spaces, and about 30 hectares of land.
  • He argued a refurbishment would take six years, close sections of the stands, and further depress income because of the stadium’s layout with an athletics track.
  • He blamed Italian bureaucracy and local officials for blocking progress, as the Milan clubs’ acquisition of San Siro this week highlighted a shift toward club-led redevelopment ahead of Euro 2032.