And now, from September, these 50 thousand people celebrating in the streets of the city last night will have to be brought to the definitively renovated stadium, whose new capacity will be just over 24 thousand seats (23 thousand of which are seated and covered: all, except the parterre of the Rinascimento tribune). Because a club that is one step away from the final third place (which won the Europa League and will play in the next Champions League) cannot remain in sixteenth place in terms of spectators (14,719 on average in the season) and eleventh in terms of takings (7 .2 million the latest figure, referring to 2023 calendar year).
And after a whole season with the Curva Sud reduced to a construction site, now the opportunity for a change of pace finally exists. Because from September the Gewiss Stadium will be able to host nine thousand more people than its current capacity (from 15 thousand to 24 thousand). It is clear that the strategies proposed by the club to increase the number of fans will be decisive. And, for now, three significant rumors have leaked out on the subject. First, the season ticket campaign will start much later than usual, probably at the end of July or beginning of August. Second, gThe increases in basic prices will be physiological, but limited (265 euros for a 19-match season ticket brings 14 euros per game: impossible to stay there). Third: the same conditions as the North should be applied for the South curve, with one additional detail: those who were season ticket holders in the South in 2022/’23 and were unable to “transfer” to the North this season will be protected.
Season ticket holder in Serie A, pre-emption in the Champions League
Atalanta, therefore, is taking all the time necessary to evaluate the case. On the one hand he knows that he cannot betray the fans’ expectations, on the other it is clear that a season like the next one is special. Because at least four Champions League matches will be played in Bergamo – six with the possible play-offs and the round of 16 (stopping at a “ranking” prediction) – and the season ticket for the championship will guarantee a pre-emption on the season ticket for the Champions League matches. Those who love the stadium will take this into account. And there will also be a pre-emption on the matches with the top clubs in the Italian Cup (Bologna in Bergamo in a single match in the quarterfinals, Juve in the semi-final).
Furthermore, it will be impossible not to take into account that, as the first consequence of the reopening of the Curva Sud, the Rinascimento grandstand will practically become a corporate sector, i.e. dedicated to companies. Because the places there are few and the requests are many. Therefore, block parking packages will be sold (from 4 to 10) which will include restaurant services and, if possible, also parking. It is obvious that the “normal” fans will inevitably have to move, and for the majority of them their home will become the Curva Sud. The capacity of which, already reduced due to the creation of the new away sector (approximately 1,200 seats, towards the central stand), it will be further limited due to the extension of the Rinascimento grandstand and the creation of new sky boxes in the upper part.
Revenue: Milan 10 times more, Inter 11
However, Atalanta will not be able to ignore a starting point: Two thirds of the capacity of the stadium (around 16 thousand seats out of 24 thousand) is given by popular seats, which demand low prices. Therefore, it will be impossible for the probable, significant increase in the number of spectators to also correspond to an adequate increase in takings. Which, moreover, are impossible to quantify in real time. Because half of Serie A now only communicates attendance data and the total revenues are simply taken from the balance sheets. The latest data on stadium revenues refers to the 2023 calendar year (therefore two half championships): on the podium are Inter (79 million), Milan (72.8) and Juve (61.5). Atalanta is 11th with 7.2 million. One eleventh of what Inter collects, one tenth of Milan.
Genoa, example for the future
The spectators (average per match) of the 2023/’24 Serie A which will be closed on Sunday by Atalanta-Fiorentina, however, are certain data, communicated match after match. And this is the seasonal summary: Inter first with 72,838 attendance, Empoli last with 10,861 people. Atalanta 16th with 14,719 spectators per match. Average attendance per match in Serie A was 30,806. Average attendance for Genoa, a model club: 31,934. Attention: For fans, Genoa is to be considered the reference club for Atalanta because at Marassi it can count on the support of two almost equal teams in terms of substance, as lively as the North of Bergamo, well coordinated and impressive for the great support they offer to the team. squad. Reaching that level for Bergamo and Atalanta would be a great achievement. But this will depend on the dynamics of the fans and the ability to put support for Atalanta above all else. We will see.
