Bizarre stadium where Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed legend status saw fan fall into its moat and others go fishing
Italian football stadiums are known for their atmosphere-killing running tracks, but one ‘English-style’ arena is so close to the pitch that it needs a moat. That’s the case for Sassuolo and Reggiana’s shared Mapei Stadium, which has become a cult favourite in Italy. The Mapei Stadium is famed for a moat in front of the ultras where one of its four ‘English style’ stands lieGetty @cl4n_85 TikTokSome fans have fallen victim to the water way as was the case when an individual tried to join in the promotion party earlier this season and failed[/caption] Others use it for fishing as one Reggiana fan went viral for finding something else to while their side went up and down the leagues@sportbible Opened in 1994 as the Stadio Giglio solely for Reggiana, the struggling Italian side used it for only three seasons in Serie A before twice going bankrupt in 2005 and then again in 2018. First sharing it with Carpi, they then reached out to nearby Sassuolo, who have become more famed as the owners of the Mapei in recent years as Serie A regulars. Promoted for the first time in 2013, they spent a decade in the top flight, most notably under former Premier League manager Roberto De Zerbi – now of Marseille – who even got them in the Europa League. Back in Serie B for the current campaign, they booked an instant return to the top flight with a dominant promotion push. Built as an ‘English style’ stadium, the 21,525-capacity arena stands out ahead of the bowls with running tracks that were given to Italian sides after their initial use for Olympic and athletic events. So the Mapei puts fans far closer to the pitch than they would be elsewhere in Italy, but there’s a caveat, as water separates them from the pitch. It’s an effective one too, as a fan recently tried to stage a pitch invasion to celebrate promotion, and ended up in the drink in painful circumstances. Before that, Reggiana fans have even been filmed fishing in the water in front of the stands, successfully pulling out a fish while their side stumbled between the divisions during years of administrative relegations. Despite their struggles, Reggiana did get to witness a number of club greats at the Mapei like Obafemi Martins and Paulo Futre. In fact, the stadium’s first-ever match saw a double from the legendary Roberto Baggio who was playing for Juventus at the time. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of a number of top players who have found success there… and avoided the drinkGetty One of the world’s greatest players ‘completed’ football at the stadium when the Coppa Italia win meant he had won every major honour in England, Spain and ItalyGetty Also on the Juve theme, it hosted Cristiano Ronaldo‘s final match, when the Old Lady beat Atalanta 2-1 in the Coppa Italia final. Future Premier League stars Federico Chiesa, who has just won the league with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur‘s Dejan Kulusevski scored the goals on that day, but it saw Ronaldo achieve iconic status. The victory, which came after a second of two Serie A triumphs, meant he’d won every domestic trophy on offer in Italy, Spain and England. He’d also just notched the feat of becoming the first player to be top scorer in Serie A, LaLiga and the Premier League before returning to the latter with Manchester United. Even though it was built in 1994, it’s still deemed one of Italy’s more modern stadiums, some relief to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin who recently called the country’s stadiums ‘a disgrace’. “You are one of the biggest footballing countries, you’ve won many World Cups, Euros, and Champions Leagues,” he said. Some stadiums, like Roma and Lazio’s shared Olimpico, have atmosphere-killing defunct running tracks separating fans from the pitchGetty “At the same time, among the big countries you have by far the worst infrastructure.” The Mapei is still one of a kind, though, and has held multiple Italy international matches over the years. It also features an impressive ‘tricolore’ stairwell in honour of the country and regions flag, as well as an art piece by Olimpia Zagnoli, inspired by The Beatles ‘She Loves You’. 150 cherry trees have also been added outside the arena, making it one of the most unique in not just Italy, but all of Europe – even if Ceferin isn’t a fan.
Italian football stadiums are known for their atmosphere-killing running tracks, but one ‘English-style’ arena is so close to the pitch that it needs a moat.
That’s the case for Sassuolo and Reggiana’s shared Mapei Stadium, which has become a cult favourite in Italy.
Opened in 1994 as the Stadio Giglio solely for Reggiana, the struggling Italian side used it for only three seasons in Serie A before twice going bankrupt in 2005 and then again in 2018.
First sharing it with Carpi, they then reached out to nearby Sassuolo, who have become more famed as the owners of the Mapei in recent years as Serie A regulars.
Promoted for the first time in 2013, they spent a decade in the top flight, most notably under former Premier League manager Roberto De Zerbi – now of Marseille – who even got them in the Europa League.
Back in Serie B for the current campaign, they booked an instant return to the top flight with a dominant promotion push.
Built as an ‘English style’ stadium, the 21,525-capacity arena stands out ahead of the bowls with running tracks that were given to Italian sides after their initial use for Olympic and athletic events.
So the Mapei puts fans far closer to the pitch than they would be elsewhere in Italy, but there’s a caveat, as water separates them from the pitch.
It’s an effective one too, as a fan recently tried to stage a pitch invasion to celebrate promotion, and ended up in the drink in painful circumstances.
Before that, Reggiana fans have even been filmed fishing in the water in front of the stands, successfully pulling out a fish while their side stumbled between the divisions during years of administrative relegations.
Despite their struggles, Reggiana did get to witness a number of club greats at the Mapei like Obafemi Martins and Paulo Futre.
In fact, the stadium’s first-ever match saw a double from the legendary Roberto Baggio who was playing for Juventus at the time.
Also on the Juve theme, it hosted Cristiano Ronaldo‘s final match, when the Old Lady beat Atalanta 2-1 in the Coppa Italia final.
Future Premier League stars Federico Chiesa, who has just won the league with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur‘s Dejan Kulusevski scored the goals on that day, but it saw Ronaldo achieve iconic status.
The victory, which came after a second of two Serie A triumphs, meant he’d won every domestic trophy on offer in Italy, Spain and England.
He’d also just notched the feat of becoming the first player to be top scorer in Serie A, LaLiga and the Premier League before returning to the latter with Manchester United.
Even though it was built in 1994, it’s still deemed one of Italy’s more modern stadiums, some relief to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin who recently called the country’s stadiums ‘a disgrace’.
“You are one of the biggest footballing countries, you’ve won many World Cups, Euros, and Champions Leagues,” he said.
“At the same time, among the big countries you have by far the worst infrastructure.”
The Mapei is still one of a kind, though, and has held multiple Italy international matches over the years.
It also features an impressive ‘tricolore’ stairwell in honour of the country and regions flag, as well as an art piece by Olimpia Zagnoli, inspired by The Beatles ‘She Loves You’.
150 cherry trees have also been added outside the arena, making it one of the most unique in not just Italy, but all of Europe – even if Ceferin isn’t a fan.
