by Giuseppe Catapano
RIMINI
First the temporary pavilions, then the ‘dome’. The process for the construction of the large arena dedicated to events in the spaces of the Rimini exhibition center is progressing at a rapid pace. Tomorrow the third commission will come to examine the proposal for a territorial agreement for the expansion of the Fair. It is the first step in the administrative process which, once completed, will enable Ieg to proceed with infrastructural investments to increase the spaces of the exhibition center (26 thousand square meters of total surface area more). The company led by president Maurizio Ermeti, as part of the 2023-2028 strategic plan, will invest 64 million euros for the restyling of the Rimini exhibition center. The ‘dome’ is the symbolic and most economically demanding project of the new course: a circular arena, a dome in fact, made of wood and 44 meters high, double that of the current pavilions, which will allow it to accommodate up to 20 thousand people and which will allow the hosting of a variety of events such as concerts, sporting events and television productions. The arena, which will be ready in 2028, will be built in the western area and the cost has increased compared to the 46 million envisaged in the old plan.
Once the territorial agreement has been signed, we will proceed with the definition of the program agreement. But, given the need to immediately guarantee additional spaces for the international events scheduled in the coming months, the possibility is envisaged for the Fair to complete an initial expansion in the short term (up to a maximum of one third of the surface area additional planned): temporary pavilions will be installed through an exceptional building permit, which will be submitted to the council commission for an opinion tomorrow. The objective is to allow the construction of the structures in time for the next edition of Ecomondo, scheduled for November. “The territorial agreement – explains the mayor of Rimini, Jamil Sadegholvaad – is the first step towards the realization of a development plan which pursues ambitious objectives and which also includes the expansion of spaces. The large dome will allow the addition of a new piece to the city’s infrastructural network, to the benefit of the Fair and therefore of the entire territory. The Ieg program looks to the future with an overall vision, marrying with the needs of a dynamic city 12 months a year”. In which the ‘dome’ will stand out. “Let’s think about events like Eurovision: if we had already had this structure, Rimini could have hosted the event” were Ermeti’s words when the project was presented.
