A sum of €500,000 has been set aside for restructuring work so the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona can be ready to host Italy’s EURO 2024 qualifier against England on March 23.
The venue was set for the big match, a reunion of the teams who already faced off recently in the EURO 2020 Final and the Nations League group phase.
They will cross paths again in the qualifying campaign to reach the 2024 European Championship, playing in Naples on March 23.
A statement from the regional authorities in Naples confirmed that €500,000 has been ring-fenced in the budget to provide restructuring works on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona before that date.
This is only the beginning, as overall €50m of work is planned, including a new set of stands with better disability access, new lighting and shoring up those areas of cement and metal that are showing wear and tear.
The arena has undergone a lot of work over the last couple of years, including new seats and a revamped press room, allowing Napoli to play in Serie A and the Champions League.
Why do Italy games have to be played in crap stadiums?
I simply don’t get why they invest in an outdated stadium. If they want to keep the stadium the must add another 7-8 seats in the first tier and lower the field a couple of meters to improve the overall view. But, building a new 50.000 seater stadium would be the better solution.
Good thing they aren’t playing Argentina, Napoli fans sure know how to ruin things.
Mikkel – They don’t build new because when they start to explore areas, they find too many under ground roman ruins, and construction stops and they need to call in teams to dig the area. Happens in Rome all the time. They would have to buy this stadium outright and then gut it. Spend 24 months renovating it and play their home games in Benevento or Salerno. I agree, Drop the pitch and redesign the lower bowl, and that removes the track.