Stadio Olimpico – Italy

Situated in the historic Foro Italico, the Stadio Olimpico is Rome’s largest stadium, and the home ground for several local and international sports teams, including Lazio, Roma and the Italian National Rugby Union Team. The stadium has hosted numerous high profile matches, including the 1996 UEFA Champions League final between.

Stadio Olimpico Stats

Opened: 1937
Capacity: 82,307
Owner: Italian National Olympic Committee
Home side: Italy

Stadio Olimpico Overview
After its most recent round of renovations, the Stadio Olimpico can accommodate over 82,000 spectators in eight stands. The stadium currently boasts world class facilities in line with its successful attempt to secure the highest stadium rating from UEFA. Recent changes to the stadium include the installation of high definition LED screens around the ground, the removal of protective fencing around the field and the removal of posts and other obstructions to spectator views.

The stadium currently holds Elite UEFA Stadium status, and is also being used to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The stadium is currently the second largest football stadium in Italy, and is amongst the 20 largest football stadiums in the world. With the stadium now commissioned to host the Italian rugby team, it has secured its reputation as the home of Italian sport.

Stadio Olimpico History
The Stadio Olimpico was constructed by the Mussolini Government, as part of the Foro Mussolini sports complex in Rome. The original stadium offered seating on grass banks. During the 1950s the stadium underwent extensive renovations, with capacity expanding to over 100,000 spectators.

Within the next decade capacity was cut back to 60,000 as the stadium was prepared to host the 1960 Summer Olympics. The next round of renovations took place in the 1990s, with the old stadium effectively demolished to make way for a new structure, and only one stand retained. The Stadio Olimpico underwent its final round of changes in the new Millennium, with renovations intended to bring the stadium in line with UEFA’s highest standards.

The Stadio Olimpico Experience
The Stadio Olimpico is renowned for its vocal supporters, and is an intimidating cauldron to play in when filled to its 80,000+ capacity. It remains to be seen whether the stadium will attract capacity crowds for Italian Six Nations matches, but if it does, the Italians can expect a significant psychological boost from the partisan local support.