Como announce redevelopment plan for lakeside stadium

Como begun on Tuesday the lengthy process of trying to modernise the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia where the Serie A club play their home games.

The redevelopment plan is in partnership with the lakeside Italian city.

President of promoted Como Mirwan Suwarso presented the project for a revamped 15,000-seater stadium, which if approved will be carried out by architectural firm Populous, with the city's mayor Alessandro Rapinese.

City and club are hoping to have the new Sinigaglia completed by the start of the 2028-29 season, building it stand by stand as Atalanta did with their modernised Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.

The stadium, which is located practically on the shore of the world famous lake and in a hugely popular tourist destination, will remain publicly owned by the city of Como with the club being licensed to play home fixtures in a similar arrangement to now.

Como are hoping to have a final design approved by May next year, and Suwarso said that the new Sinigaglia would be "an accessible space for all citizens and visitors... 365 days a year".

Backed by tobacco giant Djarum, ambitious Como have Serie A's wealthiest owners but are playing in their first season in the top flight in over two decades.

They stormed through the divisions after being acquired in 2019 following multiple bankruptcies.

Cesc Fabregas' team are two points above the relegation zone and the club invested heavily in the winter transfer window in the hope of securing safety, bringing in a host of new players with four arriving on deadline day.

Como host Juventus at the Sinigaglia on Friday night