AS ROMA ARE set for a move away from the Stadio Olimpico and arch rivals Lazio after they received approval to begin construction on a new stadium in the Italian capital.
Stadio della Roma was given the green light on Tuesday by the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, after the project received the backing of an independent technical report into how the new venue would affect the surrounding area.
Most significantly, the report concluded that the proposed new stadium would not create transport issues in the Italian capital, paving the way for the project to move forward.
“The Stadio della Roma will go ahead,” Raggi confirmed. “The proponents, if they want, can break ground as early as this year.
“We’re not against big projects, the stadium being one of them, but rather we’re in favour of useful projects that bring benefits to the city and its citizens, as in this case where a part of the city will be upgraded.”
Plans to build a 52,000-seater stadium were first revealed in 2014 and initially given the all-clear at the end of 2017 before hitting a number of snags, including the arrest of nine people linked to the venue’s construction.
The new stadium will allow Roma to move away from the city-owned Stadio Olimpico, which they share with Lazio.
Roma vice-president Mauro Baldissoni welcomed the long-awaited mayoral decision, saying: “It is about time the city has the opportunity to see the results of all these discussions and all this investment, and that Roma can finally begin construction of the stadium.”
- Omni
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