Taranto, 28 May – The new redevelopment plan for the Erasmo Iacovone stadium in Taranto was presented this morning during a press conference.

Numerous parties are involved in the project: from the firm Gau Arena of Arch. Gino Zavanella, which handled the realisation, to Elio Sannicandro, General Manager of the Mediterranean Committee for the organisation of the XX Mediterranean Games in Taranto in 2026. The conference was organised by the Gabetti Group and Esperia Investor, which are instead handling the financial project linked to realisation of the stadium, for a value of approximately €35 million. Roberto Busso, CEO of Gabetti Property Solutions, and Emiliano di Bartolo and Antonio Ferrara, respectively Chairman and CEO of Esperia Investor, were present.

Special guest Michele Emiliano, president of Regione Puglia.

Restyling of the stadium will be completed by 2026 in order to welcome the XX Mediterranean Games in Taranto. The design concept is “English-style”, developed for an area of nearly 44 thousand sqm: not a simple stadium, but a multifunctional facility designed to host every category of national and international sports or other event. The areas outlined in the project may include shops, museums, restaurants, hotels, cinemas, car parks, media centres and gyms.

A stadium that will meet the infrastructural criteria of the top national and European leagues (UEFA 4), whose spectators will be able to watch the match in the stands only 5.9 metres from the pitch, while the “curves” will be at 7.4 metres. The stadium will have a full roof, meeting and event rooms, 20 Skyboxes, exclusive VIP hospitality areas, around 18 thousand sqm of commercial space, a medical centre of about 700 sqm, and the team store and museum.

Possible commercial activities will include a hotel and wellness centre, offices and coworking spaces, arcade, gyms, and cinemas.

The project is part of the redevelopment plan for the entire city of Taranto, which focuses on several points: recovery of the old city, reclamation and redevelopment of the Tamburi district and Porta Napoli, creation of green infrastructure for urban forestation, new infrastructure and sustainable mobility projects, just to name a few.

The works are expected to be completed by 2026, so that the stadium can host the Mediterranean Games that will be held from 13 to 22 June 2026. Some 3,432 athletes from 26 countries are expected, and as many as 50 facilities will be used for competitions (including 7 outside the province). Of these, 45 already exist, while 5 will be newly built (swimming pool, nautical centre and 3 district facilities for basketball, gymnastics and training).

The new stadium will stimulate a massive process of regeneration of the residential building heritage to accompany the urban redevelopment projects. It will function as an accelerator of economic and urban planning dynamics and a multiplier of social and economic initiatives, as well as converting empty spaces, enhancing existing structures and building new ones.