Stadio Diego Armando Maradona redevelopment approved
The City of Naples has formally approved a major redevelopment project for Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, home of SSC Napoli, marking a key step in efforts to modernise the historic venue and position it for UEFA Euro 2032 hosting consideration.
The project, estimated at around €200 million, aims to reopen the long-closed third tier, remove the athletics track, extend the roof and significantly enhance spectator, hospitality and commercial facilities, increasing capacity from around 54,700 to close to 70,000. Plans also include improved accessibility, upgraded VIP and hospitality spaces, a continuous video ring and expanded commercial areas, potentially including a ‘Maradona Experience’ museum. Proposals also include placing a focus on sustainable design by reusing rainwater collected on the roof to power facilities inside the stadium.
Approval follows months of strategic planning by municipal and regional authorities, and sets the stage for Naples to present its final proposal to UEFA as part of Italy’s joint bid to host Euro 2032. City officials have emphasised long-term institutional support for the project to deliver modern infrastructure for fans and residents alike, while acknowledging ongoing debate over the stadium’s future and parallel discussions around a completely new facility.
This redevelopment represents a significant investment in one of Italy’s most iconic football venues, reflecting broader trends in European stadium modernisation ahead of major international tournaments.
https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2026/02/04/stadio-diego-armando-maradona-redevelopment-approved/
NFL to stage first regular-season game in Stade De France
The National Football League has confirmed that Paris will host its first regular-season game in 2026, marking a major milestone in the league’s European expansion. The fixture will be played at Stade de France, with the New Orleans Saints named as one of the participating teams.
“Bringing a regular season game to Paris in 2026 marks an exciting next step in the continued expansion of the League’s global footprint,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, emphasising the strategic importance of the French capital in the league’s international growth plans.
The NFL also announced that it would be returning to Madrid during the 2026 season as part of a multi-year deal to stage games at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
The NFL will play a record nine international games in 2026. The Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium will host games for the first time, with games also scheduled in Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Munich, as well as three in London.
https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2026/02/03/nfl-heading-to-paris-returning-to-mexico-city/
German football clubs surpass €6 billion in combined revenues
The latest Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) annual report shows the 36 clubs across the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga collectively generated €6.33 billion in revenues during the 2024–25 season, marking the first time the total has exceeded the €6 billion threshold. This figure represents a 7.9 % increase on the €5.87 billion recorded in 2023–24, driven by growing income across both divisions and a record 20.98 million tickets sold.
The top-tier Bundesliga alone contributed €5.12 billion, surpassing the €5 billion mark for the first time, while the second tier’s revenue grew to €1.21 billion. Media and broadcast rights remain the largest revenue source, with matchday income also rising, and 29 clubs reported profits, reflecting strengthened financial performance throughout German professional football.
https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2026/01/27/german-football-clubs-break-e6bn-revenue-barrier/
San Siro takes centre stage for Olympic Opening Ceremony
Milan’s legendary San Siro Stadium played a central role in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on 6 February, serving as the primary venue for an expansive multi-location spectacle that also spanned Livigno, Predazzo and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The nearly four-hour programme, themed around ‘harmonia’ (harmony), blended formal Olympic protocol with cultural and artistic elements designed to celebrate Italian heritage, concluding with the Parade of Nations and simultaneous lighting of Olympic cauldrons.
With approximately 60,000 spectators in attendance, the ceremony showcased performances from international and Italian artists, theatrical tributes to opera and fashion, and the traditional march of athletes from 92 nations at San Siro. It marked one of the most significant global moments for the historic stadium, before its planned redevelopment for future use.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/world/europe/milan-olympics-san-siro-stadium.html
Irish Rugby Football Union teams up with sustainability partner
The Irish Rugby Football Union has appointed Smurfit Westrock as its official sustainability partner as part of a broader long-term strategy to embed environmental best practice across Irish rugby at both elite and grassroots levels.
Under the partnership, Smurfit Westrock will support the IRFU’s sustainability framework, including practical actions in biodiversity, energy, waste, water, and travel, and help accelerate long-term change across more than 250 affiliated clubs throughout the country. The IRFU recently launched a guide for clubs detailing practical ways to make sustainable changes in the areas of biodiversity, energy, waste, water and travel. It highlights practical steps to reduce and eliminate single-use plastics and includes guidance on waste segregation and elimination of single-use plastics.
Billy Murphy, Chair of Commercial & Marketing at the IRFU, highlighted the significance of the move, stating the partnership “strengthens our ambition to embed sustainability at every level of the game.”
