Roma director general Mauro Baldissoni describes the upcoming property stadium and explains its benefits.
The Giallorossi recently deposited the project for a new stadium to the regional authorities, which means the bureaucratic process of approval has almost reached an end.
Roma director general Mauro Baldissoni describes the upcoming property stadium and explains its benefits.
The Giallorossi recently deposited the project for a new stadium to the regional authorities, which means the bureaucratic process of approval has almost reached an end.
On from President James Pallotta's enthusiastic approval of the progress made so far, Baldissoni spoke out at an event on the building of stadiums in Italy, where he was given a chair for a lecture of his own.
While much of what he discussed reiterated some of Roma's well-known plans and intentions, parts of the statement were enlightening as to the reasons behind the project and what it's going to be like.
“We could talk for hours about the reasons why we wanted to build a stadium in Italy,” said Baldissoni. “Let's mention, for instance, that time last year, when the youth team was playing in the Youth League. To allow for the television broadcasting of an important game like that of Manchester City, we had to go play in Latina. The alternative was to play in Rieti.
“It wasn't possible to play in Rome because the stadium was occupied. This season too, the senior team was forced to play on a Monday, not for television clashes but because there were rugby matches being played.
“In Rome, to play football, you have to use a single structure which wasn't thought out for football in the first place. In fact it's used for other events, not just in sports, and we can't control how they're organised because we don't own the property.
“Playing a game on a Monday, and making the decision 10 days beforehand, is something that affects us economically. It also affects the atmosphere of the game, and the rights of those who purchased a ticket but can't come because they're working. Or the kids, who have school on the next day.”
Baldissoni then went on to describe the structure of the project and what the stadium is meant to be like.
“Once it is finished, this stadium will allow us to host other events too, in sports and outside of them. The Curva Sud can be turned into a theatre with 15,000 seats.
“We can create a business centre on two floors to host public and private events. A modern stadium has to be comfortable, too.
“In these few years we worked on this aspect at the Olimpico too, with great success. We envisioned 51 suites and 90 Sky Boxes.”