Rome, March 14, 2026 – The Rome City Council has officially approved the AS Roma stadium project in Pietralata, a decision hailed as a “historic day” for the city and its football club. The final vote in the Giulio Cesare Hall of the Campidoglio saw 39 votes in favor, none against, and 5 abstentions from the FdI councilors, confirming the public interest in the Giallorossi project.
A Solid Project for the City
Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who attended the entire session, emphasized the significance of the approval. “Today is a historic day for Rome and for Romans. The approval comes at the end of an intense work carried out by the administration, by the offices and by the Assembly, who in recent years have carefully followed every step, allowing us to reach this moment with a solid project fully oriented to the interest of the city, remaining in constant contact with the government.”
The mayor highlighted that the new stadium will be a modern facility, designed to be a vibrant hub throughout the year. It integrates into a broader framework of interventions that will revitalize the Pietralata district, bringing substantial benefits to the area. The project, entirely privately funded, will also enhance the quality of public spaces in the quadrant.
Key Features of the New Stadium
The AS Roma stadium project includes several significant urban improvements:
- Two parks covering over 11 hectares.
- An additional 6 hectares of public green space.
- Three and a half hectares of piazzas and pedestrian paths.
- New parking facilities.
- Three cycle-pedestrian bridges.
- A new entrance to the Quintiliani metro station on Line B.
The stadium itself will boast a capacity of over 60,000 seats, with a curva (curved stand) capable of accommodating 23,000 fans. Gualtieri further noted that a public park larger than Villa Celimontana will be built next to the stadium, entirely maintained by AS Roma but open to all citizens, effectively creating a new Roman villa at no cost to the public.
Political Consensus and Reactions
The council session, which began with a customary delay, extended until past 1 PM, featuring statements from both majority and opposition councilors. The 5-Star Movement chose not to participate in the vote and exited the chamber. Fratelli d’Italia confirmed their announced abstention. However, the opposition parties Forza Italia, Noi Moderati, and Lega voted in favor, contributing to the final count of 39 affirmative votes, including two councilors, Nando Bonessio and Nella Converti, who participated remotely.
Ubaldo Righetti, a PD councilor and former Giallorossi defender, spoke during the debate, recalling the long-standing discussions about a new stadium since the time of former president Dino Viola. Mayor Gualtieri also acknowledged former presidents Viola and Sensi, as well as current owner Dan Friedkin, who has invested over a billion euros in the new facility, reiterating that the project is “for the whole city, usable not only on match days.”
Svetlana Celli, President of the Capitoline Assembly, described it as a “historic moment, Rome takes a concrete step towards the realization of a modern and sustainable infrastructure.” Alessandro Luparelli and Michela Cicculli (Sinistra Civica Ecologista) highlighted that the Pietralata project is “finally a stadium that does not require extra concrete volumes to be built.” Tommaso Amodeo and Giorgio Trabucco (Civica Gualtieri) called it “a modern and strategic infrastructure that Rome has been waiting for for years.” Dario Nanni (Misto) viewed it as “a redevelopment intervention for the entire quadrant.”
From the opposition, the Lega group emphasized that the approval of two orders of the day regarding mobility and urban works allowed them to vote in favor. Rachele Mussolini (Forza Italia) stated, “Our vote is favorable, it is a fundamental work for the city, but we will monitor all related projects that will be carried out.” Marco Di Stefano (Noi Moderati) added, “We asked to protect the viability and direct mobility to Pertini. We vote yes to the project that will bring a billion in investments and jobs.”
The Road Ahead
The approval of the project signifies a major milestone, moving AS Roma closer to realizing its long-awaited new home. The focus will now shift to the subsequent phases of development and construction, promising a significant transformation for the Pietralata district and enhanced facilities for football fans and the wider community of Rome.
