A well-known European stadium, named in honor of the football legend Diego Maradona, might be demolished because 10,000 seats have been declared unsafe for use.
The stadium, now called Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, was previously known as San Paolo. It was renamed in December 2020 to honor the Argentinian football icon Diego Maradona.
Construction of the stadium began in 1948, and since 1959 it has been the home ground for the Italian football giant Napoli.
The stadium has been renovated several times, first in 1990 and again in 2019.
Currently, the Stadio Maradona has a capacity of 54,725.
Before the latest renovation, it could hold even more, with a capacity of 64,000.
Due to vibration issues caused by replacing metal fencing with glass, a whole section of 10,000 seats had to be closed to fans.
Aurelio De Laurentiis, the owner of Napoli, is reportedly considering increasing the stadium capacity to generate more revenue.
The club is exploring options to repair the closed-off section.
However, De Laurentiis’s ultimate goal is believed to be the construction of a completely new stadium.
This potential new stadium could be part of a broader sports development project in the area, which might include a new sports center and improved public transportation.
If a new stadium is built, the Stadio Maradona would likely be completely demolished.
The land could then be used for the new stadium and other infrastructure upgrades.
Gaetano Manfredi, the Mayor of Naples, has already indicated his approval if De Laurentiis decides to demolish the current stadium.
