Serie A CEO De Siervo: ‘Italy has Europe’s oldest stadiums, we must modernise’

Luigi De Siervo has warned that Italian football is falling behind its European rivals due to outdated infrastructure, insisting modern stadiums are essential for the future of the game.

Speaking to Undici, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, the Lega Serie A CEO highlighted the scale of the issue.

“In our country we have the oldest stadiums in Europe, with an average age of over 70 years per venue,” De Siervo said. “Fortunately, the situation is starting to change, but the new economic model will not be fully operational for at least six or seven years. In the meantime, the gap with other leagues will continue to grow.”

Serie A CEO De Siervo wants modernisation ahead of Euro 2032

Italy is set to co-host UEFA Euro 2032, a deadline De Siervo described as impossible to ignore. Especially with a new stadium for Milan and Inter entering construction soon and proposals from both Lazio and Roma to move on from the Stadio Olimpico.

“We have a deadline that cannot be postponed: in 2032 we will host the European Championships. There are outstanding projects, such as the new stadium in Milan with an investment of over €1 billion, as well as important plans involving Lazio and Roma. Discussions are ongoing in Genoa, while in Florence there is a moment of profound transformation.”

De Siervo stressed that infrastructure is closely tied to financial growth, particularly as clubs look to diversify revenue streams beyond broadcasting. In Milan, for example, an entirely new San Siro complex will offer more commercial opportunities and is expected to boost revenue massively. It is no surprise that the clubs chose to work with an architectural firm that has worked on other huge stadiums in Europe, such as London’s Wembley Stadium.

“Right now we are going through the most difficult phase. Our clubs are still heavily reliant on TV revenue, but commercial income is growing. Having modern, state-of-the-art stadiums would provide a major boost in that respect.”

He also pointed to a broader shift within the industry, with new executives bringing fresh ideas into Italian football.

“Fortunately, football is now attracting managers from more advanced industries, introducing new skills, different visions and ambitious projects.”

For Serie A, modernisation is no longer optional, it is a necessary step to remain competitive on and off the pitch.