Location Naples, Italy
Opened 1959
Owner S.S.C. Napoli
Surface Grass 110 x 68 meters
Seats 78,210
Stadio San Paolo is a multi-use stadium in Naples, Italy
and is one of the largest stadiums anywhere in the world. It is currently
used mostly for football matches and is the home of S.S.C. Napoli. The
stadium was built in 1959 and underwent extensive renovations in 1989
for the 1990 World Cup. The present capacity of the San Paolo is 78,210.
The stadium is probably most famous for hosting the the 1990 World Cup
Semi Final between Italy and Argentina. Considered to be the most controversial
match of that world cup, Diego Maradona, then a player at Napoli asked
for the Napoli fans to cheer for Argentina. This backfired on him, with
the Neapolitans jeering his every touch of the ball throughout the match.
The match finished 1-1 after extra time. A penalty shoot out ensued with
Maradona fittingly scoring the winning penalty for Argentina.
Recent Times
Even with S.S.C. Napoli in Serie C during the 2005/2006 season, Napoli
achieved the feat of having the 3rd highest average home attendance for
a football club in Italy for the season with only the Serie A clubs, A.C.
Milan and Inter Milan having higher attendances. Napoli's final game of
the season drew a crowd of 51,000 which now stands as a Serie C record.
It was also announced that the San Paolo would host Italy's Euro 2008
Qualifier vs Lithuania on 2 September 2006 with the possibility of other
qualifiers to played there in the future.
