Stadium, when will it be inaugurated? The Pietralata project is slowing down and costs are over a billion

In the beginning there was Magliana, then the "Franco Sensi" in Massimina, finally Tor di Valle. Three different projects, all shipwrecked - for one reason or another - in nothing. Now, with Pietralata , the Friedkins want to win this never-ending game of the Roma stadium, a challenge that the late Dino Viola began playing way back in 1987, precisely with the Magliana project. But will the Friedkins really succeed in the feat of bringing home the great Giallorossi dream?

In fact, two days ago, the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri moved the date up another year, speaking of the "hypothesis" of inaugurating the facility in 2028 , a year after the club's centenary, the year in which everyone - the club and the Municipality first and foremost - dreamed of playing the first match in the new Giallorossi home. And that "hypothesis" almost went unnoticed, in the sense that - all things considered - even inaugurating the facility in 2028 would be a success, considering the current situation. "For the club's centenary in 2027 it's not possible - the words of the mayor of Rome on 'Un giorno da pecora', on Radio Rai 1 - We are working on the hypothesis of finishing the stadium in 2028. It all depends on the final project that will be presented". It is clear that the mayor is also playing an important game on the stadium, in view of his possible second mandate. Pietralata and the Santa Palomba waste-to-energy plant are the two big bets of this administration, the challenges on which part of the future of the council is also at stake.

In the meantime, however, costs continue to rise and now even the billion euro barrier seems to have been largely broken down. In its first estimate, the one made at the time of the feasibility study presented over two years ago (it was October 3, 2022 when the CEO at the time Pietro Berardi showed up at the Campidoglio with a bulky orange folder) the costs were around 570 million euros. Then the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical situation at an international level produced an increase in living costs, not just raw materials. In addition, other requirements from the Municipality relating to the first project idea arrived (the integration works requested by the Municipality from the club along the way, to be clear). So a more futuristic facility, a larger capacity and the use of eco-sustainable materials. The result is that today the cost estimate is already over one million and one hundred thousand euros.

In recent days, among other things, there has been much discussion in relation to the famous cycle/pedestrian bridge on Via Livorno, one of the fundamental works for the concession of public utility. There were also rumors about the "cancellation" of the bridge from Roma's project, rumors that however have not found confirmation in Campidoglio. The bridge (along with those at Tiburtina station and on Via dei Monti Tiburtini) is fundamental, even if the cost is not relative and Roma - probably - would do without it. The fact remains that the club must now try to present the project as soon as possible, in the Municipality they hope that the final file can arrive by this spring, perhaps as early as April. The problem is that Roma still has to complete the archaeological excavations, essential for the presentation of the project itself. Excavations that at the moment are at a standstill both because of the rain of these days, and because of the problems that have emerged recently (such as - for example - the appeal of the car wrecker on Via degli Aromi accepted last week by the TAR of Lazio). If everything were to go smoothly and excavations resume soon, it would take at least a month to run. Then the final draft of the project and the start of the entire administrative process, before the laying of the first stone. This is why 2028 also seems almost a chimera to many...