By Andrea Caropreso
Index
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Aurelio De Laurentiis’ Napoli is aiming to make a big statement—not just in the transfer market by building a highly competitive squad for coach Antonio Conte, but also in terms of infrastructure. The Napoli president has long been pushing to renovate the Stadio Maradona, expanding its capacity to nearly 70,000 seats by reopening the third tier. This section was closed in 2004 due to safety concerns, but during the Maradona era it helped make the stadium a fortress.
Investment and Economic Return
The Maradona stadium renovation represents a significant investment De Laurentiis is determined to pursue. Talks with the city—current owner of the facility—have been underway for some time to ensure the stadium becomes fully operational in the coming years. The ultimate goal is to include the Stadio Maradona among the venues for Euro 2032.
The projected investment is around €100 million—a substantial figure, but one that could yield strong economic returns for Napoli. Firstly, in terms of visibility: it would become the third-largest stadium in Italy, behind only the Olimpico and the Meazza, both with over 70,000 seats. Moreover, it could drive significant ticket revenue—especially given the increasing fan turnout in recent years, which has paralleled the club’s resurgence in both domestic and European competitions.
The local administration has reiterated its willingness to cover the entire cost of the renovations, using both public and potentially private funds, to give the city of Naples a modern stadium. In May, there was already a first meeting between the club president and the city. Since then, the municipality has started working on the third tier, while De Laurentiis’ team continues to assess every option to ensure no opportunity is missed.
The Training Center Issue
Another key topic is the construction of a new training center, as the lease on the current Castel Volturno facility is nearing its end. The new headquarters of Napoli is planned on a 25-hectare plot straddling the municipalities of Qualiano and Giugliano. The facility is expected to be cutting-edge, featuring 10 training pitches, gyms, and recovery pools for injury rehab and cool-down sessions.
The estimated investment exceeds €45 million, with construction expected to take 12 to 16 months. Groundbreaking should take place shortly after the summer. Economically, the project will help reduce operational costs (e.g., rent for Castel Volturno), enhance Napoli’s youth academy, and improve the club’s appeal to international players.
