Como will play their first three Serie A matches away from home to allow additional time to ensure their stadium meets the league’s requirements. The club were promoted to the top division for the first time in 22 years last season.
They have attracted media attention due to the presence of high profile former players investing in the club, including Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. His former teammate, Cesc Fabregas, has also been part of the coaching staff at Como since November 2023.
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Renovation plans for Como stadium outlined
Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is Como’s home stadium, opening nearly 100 years ago in 1927. Although a new Main Stand was constructed in 1990, along with redevelopments to the western curve in 2002, the stadium does not meet the league’s stadium licensing requirements. The Hartono ownership group acquired the club in 2019 and has committed to redeveloping the existing facility instead of building a new stadium.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mirwan Suwarso, the official representative of the ownership group, said: “Our Como project takes Disney as a reference: theme parks, movies, studios, media, and merchandise all combined in one place. We need to do the same in Como. The owners will soon approve the project and present it to the Municipal Authority. This won't just be Como's stadium, open two or three days a month, but a city stadium, featuring commercial and medical spaces. What about promotion? Atalanta renovated theirs in stages. We can do the same.”
How will Como stadium meet league requirements – June update
The ownership’s grand plans to renovate the whole stadium will take a long time, but in the near future, they need to ensure the venue fits Serie A’s requirements. Before work can begin, the newly-promoted side require documents to be signed, ensuring that the redevelopment structure is safety checked.
🇮🇹 @Como_1907 finish their Serie B campaign in 2nd on 73 points, earning direct promotion to Serie A next season 🆙 pic.twitter.com/O5z8UOT3Ew
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 10, 2024
Promoted teams are allowed to have a stadium with just over 10,500 seats, but if they stay in the league for further seasons, that number increases to 12,000. A decision on the club’s request to play the opening three matches away from home will be announced on June 4.
Scheduled return for 15 September – August update
There have been significant changes to the Stadio Sinigaglia this summer. This includes new blue seats installed in the Distinti section, as well as a significant increase in the stadium rent paid to the Como municipality. The increase in rent is largely down to the closure of roads near the stadium due to traffic and parking, according to StadiumDB. In fact, the municipality said: it seems appropriate for Como 1907 to compensate Como Servizi Urbani for lost revenue.
It is hoped that the renovated stadium will be ready for 15 September when Como are set to host Bologna. Structural works are being finalised inside and outside the ground, with a new underground heating system installed beneath the pitch. StadiumDB reported on 26 August, that the “final tests of the facility will begin in the coming days”.
So far this season, Como have picked up one point from their opening two Serie A matches. This included a 1-1 draw away at Cagliari. Their final away match before their long-awaited return to Stadio Sinigaglia is against Udinese on Sunday, 1 September.