Alfano bases presentation on the Brighton model.
Italy’s deputy Prime Minister Angelino Alfano has revealed that the country’s football clubs are set for ‘revolutionary’ new stadium laws.
Clubs in the Italian game have long complained about their state of their stadiums, which are predominantly still under the ownership of local councils.
While the clubs pay rent to use the facilities and the council also take a percentage of ticket sales and various other sources of revenues, little has been done to improve the structure and overall condition of the venues.
However, Alfano has now insisted that action will finally be taken and that the process of building new stadiums will become easier for the clubs.
“The Government will present an amendment to the stability law that regards sporting structures,” announced Alfano, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It will be a revolutionary presentation with three main principles: the first is the possibility to build sporting venues even using private capital, the second regards a cut through the bureaucracy that slows down operations, while the third regards the possibility of opening new structures and commercial activities inside these venues.”
Alfano has pinpointed Brighton’s Amex Stadium as the ideal model for Italian clubs moving forward, emphasising the fact that they have tripled the number of spectators and have adhered to the demands of modern day football by making it family accessible by creating a great atmosphere but also maximising the commercial potential.
However, while there is undoubtedly set to be progress, an issue that many believe will hold Italian football back is the on-going presence of the Ultras.
While former AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti insists that that is a societal issue which will take Italy longer to catch up with, the initial steps of allowing clubs more freedom to build their own homes is a significant step in the right direction.
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