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 Interactive map of Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del mare | |
| Location | Lecce,Italy |
|---|---|
| Owner | Municipality of Lecce |
| Capacity | 30,534 |
| Surface | Grass 105 x 68m |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1966 |
| Opened | 11 September 1966 |
| Renovated | 1976 1985 2019 |
| Tenants | |
| U.S. Lecce (1966–present) Gallipoli (2009–2010)[1] Italy national football team (selected matches) | |
TheStadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del mare, known asStadio Via del mare, is amulti-purpose stadium inLecce,Italy. It is mostly used forfootball matches and is the home ofU.S. Lecce. The stadium was built in 1966 and holds 40,670 seats.[2] It takes its name from the street leading to the sea, and from the Lecce Mayor at the time of the first renovation of the stadium in 1985.[3]
The Via del mare was inaugurated on 11 September 1966, during afriendly betweenU.S. Lecce andSpartak Moscow. The stadium replaced the old Stadio Carlo Pranzo, which was named after a young soldier from Lecce killed in theFirst World War. On 2 October of that year, the first match between teams fromItaly was played withLecce beating local rivalsTaranto 1–0. In 1967 Lecce played a friendly against famousPelé'sSantos here.
The initial capacity was 16,000 spectators. In 1976, the capacity was increased to 20,500 seats. With the historic first promotion of Lecce toSerie A in 1985 the stadium was almost completely rebuilt and capacity greatly increased to 55,000, which made it the 6th stadium in Italy by capacity until1990 FIFA World Cup.[4] Both the Curva Nord, now the terrace of the organized fan groups led by theUltrà Lecce, and Curva Sud, whereGioventù are based were rebuilt. The tribuna and Distinti were also upgraded and then, to ensure that all seats were numbered, capacity was reduced to 40,670 seats.
The seats are coloured red and yellow (the colours ofU.S. Lecce) and on theTribuna Est is an inscription of "U.S. Lecce". After this almost total renovation, the stadium in Lecce, along with theStadio Friuli inUdine, was the only stadium ready for the1990 FIFA World Cup. However the funding for a venue allocated to the region ofApulia went to theStadio San Nicola inBari, which caused some controversy.
In 2002, the stadium was named after Ettore Giardiniero, former mayor of Lecce (1983–1985) who contributed to the renovation of the venue during his term.[5]
During the first day of theSerie B 2007–08 championship, the press room of the stadium was named after the local journalist Sergio Vantaggiato, who died in tragic circumstances in August 2007. The plaque was presented by his son, Martino, in the presence of various local authorities, the management ofU.S. Lecce and some journalists of different newspapers.
On 1 November 2007, during a regular training session, lightning struck the ground and killed Antonio De Giorgi, a U.S. Lecce equipment manager.
During the 2009–10 season the stadium hosted the home matches of then Serie B clubGallipoli since its stadium was declared unfit as Serie B venue.[6]
On 22 August 2010 the stadium hosted a friendly between Lecce andValencia, won by the Spanish side (0–3).
On 12 August 2017 the stadium hosted a friendly match betweenInter andReal Betis. Inter won 1–0.[7] On 4 August 2018, the stadium hosted a2018 International Champions Cup match betweenInter andLyon. Inter won 1–0.
The stadium hosted a speech byPope John Paul II in 1994.
From 14 to 17 July 2011 the stadium hosted theItalia Wave festival withLou Reed,Kaiser Chiefs,Paolo Nutini and many other artists.
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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40°21′55″N18°12′32″E / 40.36528°N 18.20889°E /40.36528; 18.20889