Naples’ Stadium Redevelopment Project
After the modernization and redevelopment project for the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona had formally been approved by Naples City Council at the end of July, the detailed plans and renderings were presented at the beginning of August.
By July 31, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) had to receive the revised and detailed documentation for the stadiums hoping to host matches at the joint UEFA EURO 2032 tournament with Turkey. Five stadiums from each country are expected to stage the tournament. In Italy, a total of 16 stadiums had submitted bids and are now entering the consolidation phase with the federation. Among them is the project to modernize the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, which those responsible subsequently presented to the public.
“The redevelopment and functional upgrade of the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium represents a strategic transformation of Naples' most important sports infrastructure and one of the key venues in the Campania Region”, the presentation stated. “The project goes beyond the maintenance of the existing stadium. It is conceived as a major functional, architectural and urban transformation, aimed at making the venue internationally competitive and fully integrated within the city and the wider regional system.”
Accordingly, all areas of the stadium are to undergo modifications, with the work being carried out in phases and using a high proportion of prefabricated components in order to allow the stadium to remain operational throughout construction. The project is being driven by Mayor Gaetano Manfredi and Edoardo Cosenza, City Councillor for Infrastructure, Mobility and Civil Protection, under the coordination of project manager Vincenzo Brandi and project lead Giovanni Toscano. The design work has been entrusted to planning firms coordinated by Interprogetti S.r.l. in cooperation with KR & Associati, SPERI, SPI, Sonora, Infing, Artech FX and other specialists. Capacity is set to increase from the current 54,732 seats (34,287 for UEFA competitions) to 63,300, with a UEFA capacity of 50,270. The athletics track will be removed, the roof extended by 15 metres and the façade redesigned.
The Key Measures
The first step is the reconstruction of the upper tier, work on which already began several weeks ago. The lower tier, meanwhile, is to be demolished and completely rebuilt, as the athletics track will be removed and spectators moved closer to the pitch. An underground car park for VIP guests will also be constructed. Photovoltaic panels are to be installed across a total roof area of 5,300 square metres. The roof itself will be extended towards the centre of the pitch. According to the plans, the solar panels could generate annual electricity savings of 1,755,463 kWh. A rainwater recovery system is also part of the project and is intended to collect and reuse more than 25 million litres of water per year for non-potable purposes.
A central focus of the redevelopment is the expansion of hospitality capacity. In future, there are to be three different levels of hospitality: skyboxes underneath the roof offering “panoramic views” and private catering; “Official Hospitality” in the central upper section of the main stand; and “VIP & Partner Hospitality” with lounge access and a dedicated area between the lower and middle tiers. For events and business functions outside matchdays, the “Club Maradona” will also be introduced beneath the Partner Lounge.
Mobility and Identity
From a transport perspective, the stadium’s strategic location in the Fuorigrotta district is to be emphasized further. The stadium is already integrated into the city’s cycle network and connected to metro lines, high-speed rail services (with Campi Flegrei station located 720 metres away) and Capodichino Airport. Around 80% of spectators are expected to be able to reach the venue by public transport, with seven metro stations located within a radius of 1.5 kilometres. A direct airport-to-stadium connection with a journey time of around 14 minutes is also planned. This means the project fully complies with UEFA requirements for 2032.
The new façade, meanwhile, is intended to redefine the architectural identity of the venue while preserving the memory of the “Stadio del Sole”. In this way, the stadium’s radial design from the 1960s is to be revived.
The entire project is expected to cost around 250 million euro (approx. 289m USD / 214m GBP), of which 200 million will be financed by the Campania region and 50 million by the City of Naples, which owns the stadium. Mayor Gaetano Manfredi said: “Naples deserves a modern stadium that lives up to its history and its passion. We cannot afford to miss the opportunity presented by the 2032 European Championship. It is a goal that concerns not only the city, but the entire Campania region. We thank the Region for its support and assure full cooperation with all institutions, each within its respective area of responsibility, in the interests of citizens and supporters. The new Maradona Stadium will be an infrastructure serving Naples and will be open to the city every day of the year.” (stadiaworld, 07.08.2026)
