Name: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
City: Genua
Region: Liguria
Address: Via Giovanni De Prà 1, Genoa, Italy
Coordinates:
- Latitude: 44°24′59″N
- Longitude: 8°57′9″E
Opened: 20 January 1911
Architect: Vittorio Gregotti (during its first renovation 1987–1989 ahead of the 1990 World Cup)
Renovations: 1987–1989, 2015, 2018
Capacity: 36.599
Pitch Size: 105 m x 68 m
Home teams in Serie A: Genoa CFC
UEFA Category: –
Owner: Municipality of Genua
Information:
The Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, also known as the Marassi from the name of the neighborhood where it is located, is a multi-use stadium in Genoa, Italy. The home of Genoa C.F.C. and U.C. Sampdoria football clubs, it opened in 1911 and is the oldest stadium still in use for football and other sports in Italy. Aside from football, the stadium has hosted meetings of rugby in the Italian national rugby team and, more rarely, some concerts. The stadium is named after Luigi Ferraris (1887–1915), an Italian footballer, engineer and soldier who died during the First World War.
Teams:
The stadium serves as the home ground for two prominent Italian clubs: Genoa CFC and UC Sampdoria. The fierce rivalry between the two clubs is known as the “Derby della Lanterna,” named after the famous lighthouse in Genoa.
Notable Matches:
The stadium was inaugurated on 22 January 1911 with a football match between Genoa and Internazionale, and had a capacity of 20,000. On 22 December 1912, it hosted its first international, in which Italy lost 3–1 to Austria in a friendly.
It also hosted the 1934 World Cup round-of-16 match between Spain and Brazil,[1] and by then its capacity had been expanded to 30,000.
The stadium was dismantled and rebuilt before the 1990 FIFA World Cup, for which it hosted three Group C matches (between Costa Rica, Scotland and Sweden) and a round-of-16 match between the Republic of Ireland and Romania.
The highest attendance at the Luigi Ferraris was 60,000 on 27 February 1949, for a match between Italy and Portugal.
On 12 October 2010, a Euro 2012 qualifier between Italy and Serbia was abandoned after Serbia fans continued to throw flares onto the pitch and light fireworks. When the game finally began, more flares and fireworks were thrown onto the field and the referee stopped the match after only six minutes of play.
On 29 February 2012, the United States defeated Italy 1–0 in a friendly played at the stadium. It was the first time in almost 100 years that Italy had been defeated in Genoa after 22 December 1912 defeat against Austria, and the first time that the US had ever defeated Italy.[5]
On 14 November 2014, it hosted Italy’s end-of-year rugby union international against Argentina who won 20–18.
Renovations:
The stadium has seen significant renovations, particularly in the 1990s, to modernize its facilities and improve the spectator experience.
Architecture:
The stadium features a distinctive design with an open roof and a central stand that provides an excellent view of the pitch. In addition to football, the stadium has hosted concerts and other sporting events, contributing to its role as a key venue in the city of Genoa. Overall, Stadio Luigi Ferraris is not only a critical site for football in Italy but also a cultural landmark in Genoa.
Atmosphere:
Known for its passionate fans, the stadium offers an electrifying atmosphere, especially during local derbies.
Kuriosa:
The Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris is a multi-use stadium considered the oldest stadium in Italy that is still in use for football. It is also used for other sports like rugby, as well as hosting concerts.