Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Things are finally looking good in Stadio San Paolo these days. The maxi-screens, audio systems and hi-tech lighting systems have been installed. There's a unique athletic track that's one-of-a-kind in Italy plus a wave of 55,000 new light blue seats. In fact, this beautiful and well needed facelift was complete for the opening ceremony of the 2019 Summer Universiade on the 3 July 2019, with a special performance by Andrea Bocelli, in the presence of Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic of Italy. As the largest multi-sport event in the world, excluding the Olympics, the University Olympiad (aka Universiade) is for university athletes around the world.
With minor construction delays just finished before the deadline of 14 September 2019, for the clash between S.S.C. Napoli and Sampdoria, Napoli came out as champions in their new revitalised Stadio San Paolo. This stadium is in the western suburb of Fuorigrotta in Naples, Italy. After San Siro and Stadio Olimpico, it is Italy's third largest stadium. On most international and UK football betting sites, Napoli are among the top contenders to win the Serie A. But, with a salary-spend of £169 million more than Napoli, and more than double than any other Serie A team, one can only expect Juventus to be favourites. The Serie A top 5 team salaries for 2019 are:
The new stadium is spectacular. The blue dominates in almost all parts of the stadium, with the exception of the lower part where a pixel effect has been chosen for the seats with the alternation of five colours: light blue, blue, grey, white and yellow to give a dynamic effect. In the Tribune, the seats are blue with Napoli written across. The seats are larger and more comfortable, so the capacity of the stadium has been decreased to 55,000 seats. This is 4 thousand less than before. The upper Third Ring will remain closed for now.
Among the novelties, there are two giant maxi screens, where the replays of gameplay and advertisements will be displayed. San Paolo now also has a strikingly beautiful athletics track, the best in Italy, which was tested by the Italian Athletics Federation. San Paolo is able to host any sports competition, from the World Cup to the Olympics. It is, in fact, a Class One Track, the top of the market, costing around £1.1 million. Not only that, the technical adjustments made to the structure of the stadium were vital. Including waterproofing of steps, which are made of marble and cement, which are now coated with a special material that makes them totally waterproof.
Stadio San Paolo is now super hi-tech, with the audio-video and illumination systems undergoing a complete makeover. There are 1400W speakers for the upper Tribunes and 400W for the lower ones. The lights are connected in tune to the sound system creating a sync between light and music. The effect on the public is exceptional. Overall, the light and sound systems had a cost of about £1.6 million.
Something was needed. San Paolo was no longer a worthy stadium. In fact, it was an embarrassment to host international teams there. How could players, board member and fans from Bayern Munich be accommodated in San Paolo? Old, sad, run-down and shameful. Napoli fans did not even feel comfortable. There were many broken seats, weeds; pure degradation everywhere. It did not even offer bathrooms and toilets to spectators. Chairman of Naples Aurelio De Laurentiis, grew increasingly angry and explained it as an "open-air toilet".
Faced with the dilemma of rebuilding a new Stadio San Paolo, Aurelio De Laurentiis was fed up with the years and years of delays. The decision was made to renovate the original San Paolo Stadium, which will forever be in the hearts of every Napoli fan. It has been "Home" to some of the greatest players the Footballing World has ever seen. This includes players like Ciro Ferrara, Fabio Cannavaro, Antonio de Oliveira Filho (Careca), Bruno Giordano, Gianfranco Zola, Jose Altafini, Antonio Juliano, Dino Zoff, Giuseppe Bruscolotti and of course, perhaps the greatest of all time Diego Maradona. More recently, in the shadow of Vesuvius, champions such as Hamsik, Insigne, Cavani, Lavezzi and Higuain have earned Napoli another two Italian Cups and some solid performances in the UEFA Champions League.
All good things have to come to an end, and the same unfortunately has to be said for football stadiums too. This article looks at the grounds which are soon to host their last match, the stadiums whose days are numbered and where fans will be watching their football from next.
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