Stadio Olimpico

Stadio Olimpico, also known as l'Olimpico, is a large sports venue in Rome, Italy. It can seat over 70,000 people, making it the biggest sports facility in the city and the second-largest in the whole country, after Milan's San Siro. The stadium is owned by a government agency called Sport e Salute and is managed by the Italian National Olympic Committee.

Located in the Foro Italico sports complex in northwestern Rome, the stadium's construction began in 1928 and was completed in 1953. It has been the home of two major football clubs, S.S. Lazio and A.S. Roma, and has hosted many important events, including the 1960 Summer Olympics, the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and several European football championships. The stadium has also been used for concerts, with a record attendance of 90,000 people at a show by Claudio Baglioni in 1998.

History

Stadio dei Cipressi

In 1926, Rome changed its city plan to include a sports complex. The Stadio dei Cipressi opened in 1932. It was built on a swampy area and could hold around 100,000 people. The stadium was used for sports and big gatherings.

The stadium in 1941 during a celebration of the Tripartite Pact

Stadio dei Centomila

After World War II, the stadium was rebuilt and renamed Stadio dei Centomila. It was completed in 1952 and could hold over 70,000 people. The stadium had two main stands and two curved ends. It was used for football matches and other events.

1960 Olympics

Final of the 1954 rugby union European Cup Italy v France

In 1960, Rome hosted the Summer Olympics. The Olimpico was used for the opening ceremony and many track-and-field events. Famous athletes like Wilma Rudolph won gold medals there.

After the Olympics

After the Olympics, the stadium was mainly used for football. It hosted important matches, including European Championship games and World Cup matches. In 1990, the stadium was renovated for the World Cup, getting a new roof and more seats.

The Olimpico on a 1950s colour postcard

1990 World Cup renovation

The stadium was renovated again in 1990 for the World Cup. The old stands were rebuilt, and a new roof was added. The renovation cost a lot of money and took several years to complete.

Italia '90 and post-World Cup

During the 1990 World Cup, the Olimpico hosted several matches. After the World Cup, the stadium continued to host football matches, rugby games, and other events. Ownership of the stadium changed several times over the years.

2007–2008 renovation

In 2007–2008, the stadium was renovated again to prepare for the 2009 Champions League final. New seats, scoreboards, and VIP areas were added. The capacity was reduced to about 70,000 seats. The stadium continues to host major football matches and other events today.

Other recurring sports events

Golden Gala

The Golden Gala is a summer athletics event held at the Olimpico stadium. It was started in 1980 by Primo Nebiolo, the president of the Italian Athletics Federation. The event happened just after the 1980 Moscow Olympics, during a time when many countries were debating whether to join a boycott of those Olympics.

The first Golden Gala took place on August 5, 1980. Many top Italian athletes who couldn't go to Moscow competed there. About 74,000 people watched the event.

Six Nations Championship and rugby union

Italy used to play its Six Nations Championship matches at another stadium, Stadio Flaminio. However, that stadium didn't meet the rules for the Six Nations, so Italy started using the Olimpico in 2012. The first match there was on February 11, 2012, and England won. Since then, Italy has played many important rugby matches at the Olimpico.

Music events

The Stadio Olimpico is a great place for concerts because it has a roof. The first musicians to play there were Miles Davis and Pat Metheny in July 1991, and they performed for about 20,000 fans. The first Italian artist to perform there was Zucchero Fornaciari in June 1993, and he had 10,000 people watching.

The most people ever to attend a concert there was for Claudio Baglioni in June 1998. On the first night, 82,000 tickets were sold, and another 8,000 people were allowed in for free. This was possible because special permission was given to use the field for a very large stage.

The singer who has performed most often at the Stadio Olimpico is Vasco Rossi, with 23 concerts from 1991 to 2023. Luciano Ligabue has also performed there 13 times between 1996 and 2023.

The most frequent non-Italian acts were the British group Depeche Mode, who performed five times between 2006 and 2023. The Irish band U2 have played four concerts there since 2005. Other famous performers include David Bowie, Tina Turner, and R.E.M.

Sports events

The Stadio Olimpico in Rome has hosted many important sports events over the years. It was used during the 1960 Summer Olympics and has been the venue for several big football and rugby matches.

Some famous events include finals from the UEFA European Championship in 1968 and 1980, the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final, and the 2009 UEFA Champions League final. The stadium has also seen key matches in the Six Nations rugby tournament, including Italy's first wins against France, Ireland, and England.

Attendance

The table below shows the average number of fans who attended each season’s games at Stadio Olimpico for the teams Lazio and Roma. The most people ever watched a game there was 78,886. This happened on May 12, 1974, during a match between Lazio and Foggia. Lazio won that game, which helped them win their first big prize, called the scudetto, one game before the season ended.