Napoli push ahead with £215m plans to redevelop Stadio Maradona as huge Euro 2032 upgrades confirmed

Napoli's iconic Stadio Diego Armando Maradona has taken another significant step towards a major redevelopment after city officials confirmed work is already underway on plans designed to secure its place as a host venue for Euro 2032.

The proposed project would transform one of European football's most famous stadiums, increasing capacity to around 70,000 and finally removing the athletics track that has separated supporters from the pitch for decades.

Napoli plans to redevelop Stadio Diego Armando Maradona advance

Naples Infrastructure Councillor Edoardo Cosenza has confirmed the city is continuing to push ahead with its ambitious redevelopment plans despite uncertainty over Napoli's long-term stadium future.

The project, valued at around €250 million (£215 million), would see €200 million (£175 million) provided by the Campania Region and a further €50m (£43 million) from the Municipality of Naples.

Plans include reopening the long-closed third tier, extending the roof, removing the running track and creating a single continuous bowl that would bring supporters much closer to the action.

Work has already started on stabilising the stadium's third ring, beginning with Curva B as a prototype before rolling the improvements out across the rest of the venue. Additional iron beams and vibration dampers are being installed to address long-standing concerns from nearby residents.

According to local reports, the final redevelopment proposal will be submitted to UEFA within the next month as Naples bids to secure hosting rights for Euro 2032.

The city hopes to reopen the entire third tier within 18 months, significantly increasing capacity from the current 54,000.

FGG says: A fitting upgrade for one of Italy's great stadiums

The Stadio Maradona remains one of the most iconic grounds in world football, but there's little doubt it is in need of modernisation if it wants to remain among Europe's elite venues.

Removing the athletics track alone would be a huge improvement, creating a far better atmosphere and bringing the stadium closer to the modern football experience that supporters expect.

There are still questions over Napoli's own stadium ambitions and whether the club ultimately remains at the Maradona long term, but from the city's perspective, pushing ahead with this redevelopment makes complete sense if Naples wants to play a major role at Euro 2032.

For a stadium that hosted Diego Maradona at his peak and remains deeply woven into the identity of Naples, this feels like an important step towards ensuring it remains relevant for generations to come.