Napoli Owner Calls for New Stadium Amid Criticism of Current Venue
On November 8, 2025, Napoli’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, expressed his discontent with the club’s home ground, the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, labeling it “a dump” and emphasizing the need for a new stadium.
During the Football Business Forum held in Milan, De Laurentiis voiced concerns regarding the outdated facility, urging the local government to support his plan for a modern venue that could enhance revenue and improve the club’s competitiveness against northern Italian and European rivals.
The Napoli owner pointed out the financial gap between his club and competitors like AC Milan and Inter Milan, who can earn as much as €14 million (approximately $16 million) from Champions League matches. In contrast, Napoli’s current capacity for generating revenue from their stadium is limited to just €3 million.
“That’s quite a difference, isn’t it?” he stated. “I made the same remarks when Carlo Ancelotti took over in 2018. Paris Saint-Germain pay the same rent for their stadium, yet they enjoy exclusive rights and generate €100 million annually, while we only have access for three days surrounding the match.” He further criticized the stadium’s design, noting that an athletic track and moat distance fans from the action.
Milan and Inter have recently announced plans to tear down San Siro, replacing it with a modern arena after purchasing the site from the city council for €197 million ($226 million).
De Laurentiis, who is willing to fund the construction of a new 70,000-seat stadium for Napoli, voiced frustration at the local authorities, claiming, “They don’t understand that there are 25 million potential voters who care about this sport. We need more flexibility. Allow clubs to build or renovate stadiums along with housing projects; these revenues can support long-term investments.”
Currently, Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, leads the league, just one point ahead of Inter, Milan, and Roma as they prepare to face Bologna on Sunday.
Antonio Conte’s squad has struggled lately, with back-to-back goalless draws against Como and Eintracht Frankfurt. The team is still without injured players Alex Meret, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku.
Bologna, positioned sixth and four points behind Napoli, also recorded a 0-0 draw in their last fixture against Brann in the Europa League. They will welcome back winger Riccardo Orsolini, although Jens Odgaard and Juan Miranda face uncertainty regarding their fitness for the upcoming game.
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