Football Weekends is 100 editions old at the end of April. Given my passion for Calcio, I was asked to put together a list of stadiums I consider truly worthy of visiting. Maybe to some, it is a controversial list, but it reflects my enthusiasm for more than just a stadium, steering clear of the monied end of life. I submitted a list of 12. Jim came back and asked me to embellish on the first nine below. Como was my first list. I suspect having visited the Sinigaglia himself, Jim might be adding notes without my input on that one, but I will add it here as number ten, along with the two that missed the cut.
1/ Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, Venezia
Experiencing Venezia as a city is something unique, and the same goes for its football stadium. It isn’t so much the venue, more the whole interactive Venetian experience. The Penzo is tacked onto the end of the main island, in a leafy suburb of the city. It glimpses real life Venezia. Where else can you arrive by water bus (you can walk as well- a long walk through tight tourist-filled streets) then climb to the back of the scaffolded stands and watch the working water world of the city go by. Unique, and closeness of the action in this old school venue is a treat.
2/ Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
If you have ever watched a match on TV from here, you might have noticed an immense tower at the halfway line opposite the cameras. Outside the stadium on that side, the fine arches and tower point to architecture of another era. It is a thing of beauty, dating back to 1927. Plans to alter its makeup and put a roof over the uncovered seats will be done sympathetically to the yesteryear construction. You get a great view no matter where you sit, and it generates a fabulous atmosphere. The Dall’Ara could well be a Champions League venue next season.
3/ Stadio Pino Zaccheria, Foggia
There are a number of stadiums built in the same style in Italy, almost brutalist concrete construction, practically identical, with Avellino, Salerno, Campobasso and Ascoli all originally very similar. You will get a more stunning view at some of these other grounds, but Foggia’s captivates if you are from the school of appreciation of Zdenek Zeman and his ‘90’s team. Southern Italian fans are more passionate, they create an incredibly hostile atmosphere, and when full to bursting, the Zaccheria with its stands tight to the pitch, it would be an amazing experience. The ghosts of Zeman hang over this stadium, and it’s the fan aspect that makes it worthy of inclusion here, a full immersive gig.
4/ Stadio Romeo Menti, Vicenza
Back in the day, the Menti was a similar two tier construction to Foggia, but it’s been totally re-jigged as an all seated one tier venue. The main stand and style of floodlights are very British, and the home Curva, even down in the third tier, is very loyal and passionate. This is potentially a big club, constantly underachieving these days, despite a bigger budget than those around them. The outside walls of the stadium are full of reminders of great moments and teams in the past, as well as, near the main entrance housing a statue of the great Paolo Rossi, this was his team. The views across the spires of beautiful Vicenza from the terraces is another reason to enjoy the Menti, even more so if it coincides with a sunset.
5/ Stadio Alberto Picco, La Spezia
A trip to the Picco, will take on greater enjoyment if it includes a fully immersive delve into this fascinating port city. The stadium is shoehorned in between stunning Ligurian mountain views and an off limits Italian Naval dock. The home Curva Ferrovia is truly a curve too, with its unique arched style. The Picco has been buffed up a lot in recent years, sadly now the Feethams-esque (old home of Darlington) stand has been replaced by something more modern, but the views remain unhindered. With no running track, the action is close and the atmosphere generated is always terrific.
6/ Stadio Ciro Vigorito, Benevento
I could easily have included the Vigorito in the same batch of constructions as Foggia. The style is very similar, but the difference here is, having been in Serie A more recently, the ground has been modernised in terms of seating and that puts it into a separate category for me. Again a southern venue that generates a terrific atmosphere, with no running track to push the action further away either. You are guaranteed an excellent view no matter where you sit. If the action gets dull and you’re opposite the main stand, just marvel at the beauty of the Campania hills above the home curva, it adds to the panoply of delight.
7/ Stadio Nereo Rocco, Trieste
Of all the stadiums mentioned from Italy, this is the most awe-inspiring of them all. It is both significant in size (21,000) and unique in construction. It has a whiff of Tynecastle with its four high gradient stands, but it is bigger and even more imposing. The outside architecture is a thing of beauty too. It has never graced Serie A, and rarely if at all Serie B, as sadly the local team US Triestina are stuck in Serie C almost permanently, unless they go bust, which happens! Trieste is tucked in an Eastern corner of Italy. It has a fascinating history, and some very lavish buildings, but from a football perspective, the Nereo Rocco is a largely overlooked pearl.
8/ Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena
I am sure readers always have a soft spot, and cherish the first venue they saw a game outside the UK, or your own country. Back in 1987 the Manuzzi was a completely different ground, but that promotion back to Serie A was almost the catalyst for three sides of the stadium to be demolished, replaced by two tier covered stands, while getting rid of the old ellipse design too. It is a brilliant stadium, almost a pioneer in the bland, generic new style prevalent in Britain and Germany these days, but as you’d expect in Italy, it creates quite a thrilling atmosphere, and is about to host second tier football next season for the first time in a while. Cesena will be aiming higher though.
9/ Stadio Riviera delle Palme, San Benedetto del Tronto
If you are fed up with the monied end of our sport like me, why not swap notions of the San Siro for this gem. It has similar corner swirling walkways to get you to the upper tier. The Riviera delle Palme is mildly hilarious, in that it smacks of a much bigger club. Sambenedettese at best have graced Serie B a few times, but the club’s ambition has never matched its venue. Triestina at least had a glorious history, and while the same cannot be said for Samb, the venue has almost created a myth of past greatness for the local fans. However, chapeau to the visionaries that designed and saw its construction through. The main stand in particular is a thing of beauty. It is, without a shadow of doubt, the finest 4th tier stadium in the country. San Benedetto is a lovely beach resort, fishing/marina port town on the Marche southern borders, and with a great stadium, what’s not to like about it.
Football Adventures with James Rendall 