Stadio Olimpico: capacity, location, facts and video tour of Roma and Lazio stadiums

The Italian capital site has hosted two Champions League finals.

Stadio Olimpico is the largest sports facility in Rome and Italy and belongs to the Italian National Olympic Committee.

Since its inception, the stadium has hosted some of the most memorable moments in football and sport, making it a must-see stadium for fans around the world.

So if you are planning a visit, OBJECTIVE brings you everything you need to know.

Where is the Stadio Olimpico?

Address: Viale dei Gladiatori, 00135 Roma RM, Italy

Google Maps: Other directions to the stadium can be found here

The Stadio Olimpico is located five kilometers north of Vatican City in the northwest outskirts of Rome. It is part of the Foro Italico sports complex, bordered on one side by the Tiber and on the other by a nature reserve.

Conduct

If you choose to drive to the stadium, take the N5 exit towards Flaminia on the Rome ring road, then follow the road signs to Foro Italico, where the Stadio Olimpico is located.

Tram

Alternatively, the stadium can be reached by tram, which passes by the stadium on the other side of the Tiber; Board this tram at Flaminio metro station on line A, which is near the Villa Borghese gardens. Get off at the Mancini stop and walk 15 minutes to the stadium.

Bus

The Stadio Olimpico can also be reached by bus. Take bus 32 to Ottaviano metro station, located just north of Vatican City. Take the bus towards Tor di Quinto and get off at the Stadio Tennis stop.

Bus 280 can also be taken from Castel Sant’Angelo or Lepanto metro stations. Take the bus towards Mancini and get off at the Stadio Tennis stop, then walk to the stadium. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.

When was the Stadio Olimpico built?

The Stadio Olimpico officially opened on May 17, 1953in a match that saw Ferenc Puskas score a brace as Hungary beat Italy 3-0.

It opened much later than originally planned. The stadium one construction began in 1928and the first level was completed in 1932. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, developments were halted and not resumed until December 1950.

With the exception of converting all the terraces to seats, the Stadio Olimpico remained virtually the same until it hosted the European Championship in 1980. It hosted three group matches as well as the final between West Germany and Belgium (2-1).

However, once Italy was announced as the hosts of the 1990 World Cup, it was clear that the Stadio Olimpico, as one of the main stadiums for the tournament, would require significant alterations.

Initially only a renovation was planned, but in the end an almost completely new stadium was built. The stands have been moved closer to the pitch and a roof has been added.

To remain eligible to host future Champions League finals, the stadium last underwent renovations in 2007, which included replacing all seats, improving security and improving dressing rooms and the press room.

What is the capacity of the Stadio Olimpico?

The stadium currently has a capacity of 72,698.

When it opened, the stadium could accommodate up to 100,000 people, although most of them were on the terraces. However, as Rome prepared for the 1960 Olympics, the Stadio Olimpico was converted to an all-seater stadium, reducing its capacity to 53,000.

The stadium’s capacity was later increased to 74,000 after massive renovations were completed in 1990 in preparation for the World Cup tournament.

Then, in 2007, as the stadium was redeveloped to meet UEFA stadium standards, the capacity was reduced slightly to 72,698.

Which teams play at the Stadio Olimpico?

AS Roma and SS Lazio are the two main occupants of the Stadio Olimpico, even if Italy also regularly play their ground games.

Both Roma and Lazio have raised doubts about playing at the stadium, which has often been described as far too big for clubs and slightly aged.

Lazio had planned to move to a new stadium throughout the 2000s, but these fell through.

Meanwhile, Stadio Della Roma, Roma’s proposed new stadium, has been planned for years, with earlier expectations that it would be ready for use in the 2020-21 season. These plans were halted in February 2021 and the future of the Stadio Della Roma project remains uncertain.

Does the Stadio Olimpico host concerts and other events?

Stadio Olimpico has and continues to host music concerts as well as other sporting events.

The stadium first staged a non-football event in 1960 when Rome hosted the summer olympics, and saw 18-year-old Muhammad Ali win gold.

Since then, the Stadio Olimpico has hosted the 1974 European Athletics Championships, the 1975 Summer Universiade, the 1987 World Championships in Athletics and the 2001 Summer Deaflympics.

Concerts have also been held regularly at the stadium since Miles Davis first performed there in 1991; since then, Tina Turner, Sting, Madonna, the Rolling Stones, Beyonce and Ed Sheeran have all followed suit.

Can you book a tour of the Stadio Olimpico?

Since November 2021, tours of the stadium have been made available to the public and are offered in Italian and English.

The tours combine the stories and histories of AS Roma, SS Lazio and the Italian Football Federation as well as the other sporting events held at the iconic Stadio Olimpico.

Tours are available seven days a week and run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but this may vary depending on the day of the event.

Tour tickets cost €18 (£15) for adults and €11 (£9) for under-16s. Reservations can be made online at VivaTicket website.

What is the seating plan of the Stadio Olimpico stadium?

A seating plan for the stadium can be seen on the Seat selection website.

Further reading

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