Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
Map
Former namesStadio Littoriale (1927–1945)
Stadio Comunale (1945–1983)
LocationBologna, Italy
OwnerBologna Football Club 1909 Bologna City Council
OperatorBologna Football Club 1909
Capacity36,000
SurfaceGrass
105x68m
Construction
Broke ground1925
Opened1927
Renovated2015
Tenants
Bologna F.C. (1927–present)
Italy national football team (selected matches)

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara is a multi-purpose stadium in Bologna, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Bologna FC. The stadium was designed by Giulio Ulisse Arata and inaugurated in 1927 as Stadio Littoriale. It was one of the first stadiums to incorporate the stands into the architecture, an innovation which later became the model for stadiums around the world. The large arch contained an equestrian statue of the dictator Benito Mussolini, which was destroyed during the city's liberation in 1943.[1] The stadium replaced the Stadio Sterlino[2] and is named after Renato Dall'Ara (1892–1964), a former president of Bologna for thirty years.

The stadium hosted matches in both the 1934 FIFA World Cup and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The last match of the tournament played there was the England vs Belgium match in the Round of 16 which ended 1–0 courtesy of an extra-time goal scored by David Platt in the 119th minute.[3]

Located in the Saragozza district, about 3.5 km from the center of the city, it regularly hosts Bologna's home matches. The stadium has around 36,000 seats and its capacity can be increased up to 55,000 for concerts.

International fixtures

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The 17 November 1993 qualifier between San Marino and England finished with England winning 7–1, but only after the hosts scored in the opening seconds of the match.[4] It was the quickest goal ever scored, by Davide Gualtieri of San Marino, taking 8.3 seconds to put his team ahead against England.

The stadium also hosted three international rugby union test match in 1995, Italy vs. All Blacks (the All Blacks won the game 70–6), in 1997 Italy vs. Springboks (the Springboks won the game) and Italy vs. Ireland (Italy won the game).

The stadium features as the lead song on the Los Campesinos! album 'Sick Scenes'.

Panorama of Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
Bologna's Renato Dall‘Ara Stadium in 2021

1934 FIFA World Cup

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The stadium was used for two matches during the 1934 FIFA World Cup.

Date Team #1 Result Team #2 Round
27 May 1934  Sweden 3–2  Argentina Round of 16
31 May 1934  Austria 2–1  Hungary Quarter-finals

1990 FIFA World Cup

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The stadium was one of the venues of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

It hosted the following matches:

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round
1990-06-09  United Arab Emirates 0–2  Colombia Group D
1990-06-14  Yugoslavia 1–0
1990-06-19 4–1  United Arab Emirates
1990-06-26  England 1–0 (a.e.t.)  Belgium Round of 16

References

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  1. ^ Sakalis, Alex (21 July 2022). "An Architectural Tour of 20th-Century Bologna". Italy Magazine. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Stadio Renato Dall'Ara" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. accessed 9 September 2015
  3. ^ "World Cup 1990". Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Davide Gualtieri: The man from San Marino who shocked England". accessed 9 September 2015
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44°29′32″N 11°18′35″E / 44.49222°N 11.30972°E / 44.49222; 11.30972