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Sharing of stadiums in football is something that is uncommon and unheard of in modern day football. In the past, there has been a time when clubs from the same city have had to share the stadium for various purposes before moving into their own new and permanent home.
Juventus and Torino shared the Stadio Olimpico in Turin for a combined time span of 37 years before Juventus moved into their new home Allianz Stadium in 2011. In the eastern part of Europe, Metalist Kharkiv and Shakhtar Donetsk have been co-owners of the Metalist Stadium since 2017 due to Shakhtar having to relocate their old stadium due to the Donbass War in 2014.
However, in Italy the scenario is different. History and tradition are followed and respected. In the Serie A, 45% of the clubs share their stadium with one another.
Here is a list of the 5 stadiums that are shared in Italy:
#5 Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia
The Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, located in Bergamo, is the home of Serie A club Atalanta B.C. and Serie C U.C. AlbinoLeffe. The venue has a capacity of 21,300. Opened in 1928, it has served as the home of Atalanta ever since.
AlbinoLeffe was founded in 1998 and moved into this venue in the year 2003. Since then, the stadium has had co-tenants. It has undergone renovations thrice, in 1949, 1984 and 2015. The biggest and most noteworthy moments have to be the promotions earned by Atalanta back to top flight football on different occasions.
However, the most successful achievement was when the home fans got a chance to witness European football this season following their successful qualification to the Europa League last campaign.
Despite all the positives, the condition of the stadium is not up to Serie A standards due to a lack of facilities, distant viewing positions from the stands and also due to there being no roof on the stadium. The site is officially owned by Atalanta after they paid €8.6 million for its ownership and an additional €2.6 million for the stadium redevelopment in 2015.
#4 Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi
The stadium is owned by Serie A rivals Chievo Verona and Hellas Verona. The stadium, owned by the Municipality of Verona, holds a capacity of just less than 40,000 and was first opened in 1963 and underwent renovation in 1989
There is a significant distance between the pitch and the stands since there is a running track in between which makes the fans distant from the action on the field. The stadium lights up during the time of the Verona derby. However, there have been years when the venue has not been able to host the derby due to the absence of Hellas Verona from the Serie A.
Chievo has cemented its place in the top flight of Italian football since 2008 whereas Hellas were alternating with their status following relegations and promotions to and from the second tier. Similarly, the first ever Verona derby in Serie A took place in 2001.
The venue played host to four group stage matches of the 1990 World Cup. When it comes to the average attendances, Hellas have edged Chievo in this battle despite them having to go through the struggles in the second division. In the last five seasons, Chievo fans have averaged an aggregate of 10,651 fans per game whereas the Hellas have attracted a crowd of 17,762 fans each match.
#3 Stadio Luigi Ferraris
The Ferraris is shared by Serie A clubs Genoa C.F.C and U.C. Sampdoria. The stadium, owned by the Municipality of Genoa, holds a capacity of 36,600 and has served as the home of Genoa since its opening in 1911. Sampdoria moved into the venue in 1946, the year they were founded as a professional football club.
Both have had mixed fortunes in the last few decades. There were times one club would be struggling in the second division while the other was thriving in the first division. The average attendance for both teams over the last five seasons has been marginal with a minimal difference.
However, the stadium becomes lively during the time of the Genoa derby. Both the sets of fans get ready for the clash with their bitter rivals by preparing banners and Tifosi. Usually, this is the only time of the year when the Ferraris is filled to capacity otherwise when both the crosstown rivals are playing any other club, the attendance is between 60% to 70%.
The venue has hosted some historic matches. The fans of both Genoa and Sampdoria have got a chance to witness European football through the Europa League in the last decade.
The Stadio Luigi Ferraris also played host to four matches of the 1990 World Cup, most notably the round of 16 clash between Republic of Ireland and Romania which the Irish won 5-4 on penalties.
#2 Stadio Olimpico
The Stadio Olimpico in Rome is one of the oldest and most historic stadiums in Italy. At a capacity of 70,000, the venue has served as the home for capital clubs AS Roma and SS Lazio since 1953.
There has been a decline in attendance over the last 10 years at the Olimpico. Last season, the stadium witnessed an all-time low when there was a presence of only 32,000 Roma fans and 20,000 Lazio fans per game.
Despite, the declining attendances over the last five to ten years, the stadium has hosted numerous historic matches. The most anticipated game every season has to be the fierce Rome Derby, which attracts a huge crowd resulting in all the seats getting filled up. The Olimpico is the host for the final of the Coppa Italia every season.
In 2013, Lazio and Roma clashed in the Coppa Italia final with The Eagles coming out victorious 1-0. In 1984, the Olimpico was the host for the 1984 European Cup final which saw Roma becoming the first team to have home-field advantage in a European final. However, they lost the game on penalties to Liverpool.
Another memorable game at this venue was the final of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in which West Germany overcame Argentina 1-0 to lift their third World Cup trophy. Some of the greatest players have graced the Stadio Olimpico, but one of the legendary ones is Francesco Totti, who spent his entire career in Rome.
However, AS Roma plan on moving to a new stadium which is projected to be opened in 2020. The construction cost is an estimated €300 million and is set to hold an initial capacity of 52,500 which will be expandable to 55,000 in the future.
#1 San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, also known as the San Siro, was named after two-time World Cup Winner and legendary striker Giuseppe Meazza, who spent a major portion of his career at Inter Milan and had a brief stint at AC Milan also.
It has been the home of AC Milan since 1926 whereas Inter Milan made the move to the Meazza in 1947. Since then, the venue has played host to both the Milan clubs and staged the Milan derby ever since. There have been some legendary battles and historic matches in this stadium, such as the derby in the Champions League knockout rounds in 2003 and 2005, with AC Milan winning both times.
Other than playing host to both AC and Inter, the venue has served as a host for World Cup, European Championships, Italian national team as well as the European Cup and Champions League finals on four different occasions, the most recent one being in 2016 when Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid on penalties.
Due to the decline of both the Milanese giants, the level of the derby has stooped to all new level. Historically, the derby would attract crowds when both teams were competing for the Scudetto but now the tide has shifted with both clubs challenging for a top four spot or just a European place.
The Milan derby still attracts a huge number of spectators and the fans are always ready to go into battle with their arch-rivals. Despite the decline in fans turning up in other parts of Italy, the San Siro holds the first position for average attendance per game for the last two seasons, with the Internazionale fans occupying the top and AC Milan fans occupying second place.
The Chinese owners of AC Milan intend on moving the club to a new stadium. In December 2017, the COO of the club met with the representatives of the Milano City Council. There were also meetings in mid-2017 with the city mayor about the possible renovation of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in order to modernise with the latest standards, with members from both clubs being represented in the discussion.
