“They can build it by the end of the year.”

The words uttered by mayor Virginia Raggi last week were a breath of fresh air for those desperate to see a contemporary coliseum fit for a city with as proud and illustrious a history as Rome. Raggis revealed that the Polytechnic University of Turin’s report on potential infrastructure impacts was positive, the latest development in an ongoing saga of clearing bureaucratic hurdles. 

In fact, the Stadio Della Roma plans began to take shape all the way back in 2012. The project includes a 52,000 capacity venue in the Tor di Valle area of the city, an adjacent training facility and space for bars and restaurants. 

Those familiar with Italian football have long bemoaned the conditions of a large number of playing grounds on the peninsula. Poor seating, running tracks negatively affecting atmosphere and views and a lack of modern amenities have caused many to liken their experiences to taking a step back in time.

Television rights deals, the nation’s economy, volatile ownership and a host of other factors are at play to be sure, but the lack of state-of-the-art, club-owned stadia throughout Italy’s top flight continues to be one of the most significant factors holding the league back

To date, only five Italian teams (Juve, Sassuolo, Atalanta, Udinese and Frosinone) own their own stadium, a staggering figure given its normality in other top European leagues. As FloFC’s own Adam Digby aptly highlighted, the tides have turned for a selection of clubs on this front but others must act sooner rather than later.

There is cautious optimism around the league as Bologna recently released plans to transform their Stadio Renato Dall'ara into a calcio oasis, and Atalanta and Cagliari also have plans to modernize sometime in 2020-21.

 The benefits of owning and operating a venue cannot be overstated, as it allows teams to maximize profits and implement alterations at will. The completion of the Stadio Della Roma would be the next crucial step if their aspirations of closing the gap with Juventus domestically and growing in stature on a European stage are to fully materialize.

“You can’t build a global brand without owning your own stadium,” asserted Roma owner James Pallotta last year when the club’s plans appeared to be making real headway.

Juve, Milan and Inter have won the vast majority of titles, but Roma are still one of the most influential and recognizable Serie A outfits and their success can only be beneficial for a league trying to keep pace with the likes of the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga.

They have gone to great lengths to grow their brand in recent years through measures such as United States tours, partnering with the navigation app Waze and a number of initiatives that have helped procure one of the most highly-regarded presences on social media.

Digby also spoke recently to the role visitors play in ticket sales for Juve, something that Roma can look to capitalize on themselves. He estimates that roughly 5,000 of the 41,000 attending sold-out matches are tourists wanting to get a taste of one of Europe’s best at the Allianz Stadium. 

Rome remains one of the bucket list destinations for travelers from every corner of the globe. With famous landmarks and a plethora of cultural experiences to indulge in, the city draws upwards of nine million visitors annually, behind only London and Paris in Europe.

It would be no stretch to imagine many capping off a trip to the Italian capital with an outing to watch the modern-day gladiators of Rome in a setting where one feels safe and is treated to a first-class sporting experience. 

Last year’s miraculous Champions League run turned heads and briefly put the football world’s spotlight on the Eternal City. With the inauguration of a new home ground and entertainment complex, Roma would help lead the charge of restoring Serie A glory both on and off the pitch. 

An avid Roma fan, Wesley Davidson works in youth soccer in Austin, TX, and contributes to FloFC. You can find him on Twitter.