“We have seen moments of apprehension. Those days when we were looking for a new property there was no queue in front of Palazzo Pubblico. Many left because they didn’t understand that there was no stadium and no training ground. We couldn’t give a certain date due to the ongoing litigation. An enormous damage, and we cannot fail to underline that the lack starts from not having a significant sports center in Siena”. This is the incipit of Michele Capitani, deputy mayor of Siena, during the conference at Palazzo Patrizi. A long speech, that of the urban planning councilor, who returned several times to Acquacalda, the most suitable area, in his opinion, to build something concrete in a relatively short time. “In 2022, when the operational plan was drawn up, something in this sense was included,” continues Capitani. “They ask me: why don’t you do anything then? Because to deal with land owners, you first need a project. And if we’re talking about a simple expansion of the sports area, well, we’ll take care of it. But if we’re talking about a sports centre, and in my opinion this must be done, then Siena’s ownership must take care of it. Siena must present a sustainable project, saying how many fields are needed, whether the gym, the physiotherapy centre, the medical offices, the guesthouse are needed. And something moved in February. The sports center must be accessible to citizens in some way. We have the example of Viola Park in Florence”.
“Today I took up a letter from the president of Siena Fabrizi, in 2007, he wrote to the mayor Cenni – continues Capitani – he said: the project is beautiful, but you underestimated the aspect of the training fields, which are not sufficient, you underestimated the gyms . An expression of interest was made, but no one responded, not even Siena. Those were other times, other resources, other situations now lost. There must be a conversation with the company to understand what it needs. The only suitable area for me is the one there, in Acquacalda, and an urban planning variant would be ready quickly. The area lends itself very well, it already has a sporting vocation, there is a swimming pool which could be used for rehabilitation, and from an urban planning point of view it is simpler because we are in an urbanized area, Isola d’Arbia would take longer . Two fields would enter the area after the veloskating track. The structural plan can also imagine important, revolutionary projects in the Rastrello and Fortezza areas, but now Acquacalda is relatively ready. The costs of a three-court sports center? We are around six million euros.”
Capitani then moves on to the topic of the stadium. “In my opinion, the existing area must be redeveloped, including the Fortress, which has great potential. I am thinking of a structure that takes on the characteristics of an English stadium, which would also be convenient for the historic centre. We need to invest in that. One of the biggest peculiarities is the parking. Let’s start from a concept: moving the market is something impossible, also for security reasons. The market will always have that location, and when there is a market, the stadium car park cannot meet the demand. On Wednesdays a person who wants to access the historic center must be able to find parking. Strengthening parking is an operation that the Municipality can think about.”
Meanwhile, the conversation with Giacomini continues. “We have made the commitment to give the stadium and Bertoni back to the club. The details need to be ironed out, there may be different visions but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a desire to close the current ownership, on the contrary. We need ready-made projects and who better than the owner can present them”, underlines Capitani, who when asked by a fan about the possibility of being able to attract a large investment fund to Siena, famous throughout the world for its beauty, as is happening in many football venues, he responds like this: “To Giacomini, at the last home match, I said to him: where do you find a stadium with a panorama like that, with a view of San Domenico? History says that the Triestina operation was that, but you have to think that the investment funds want remuneration, a return. The administration’s task is to monitor the stadium redevelopment project and encourage any investments. It’s true, there is almost no company left in Italian hands, these are unavoidable steps but which we must govern. The stadium is architecturally valuable and cannot become Disneyland.” (GI)
Source: Fol
