Venezia confirm 40-year deal for new 18,500-seat Tessera stadium

Venezia sign 40-year agreement to build new home at Bosco dello Sport

Venezia FC have signed a 40-year agreement with the Venice city council to manage their new stadium, a move that will end the club's long and complicated tenure at one of Italy's oldest grounds. According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the venue will be built in Tessera, on the mainland near Mestre, as part of the Bosco dello Sport sports complex.

The new ground will hold up to 18,500 fans for football and will also be capable of hosting concerts, festivals and other major events. Under the terms of the agreement, the club will invest a total of €125m, covering the completion of the stadium's facilities, maintenance and the concession fee across the four decades of the deal.

Club president Francesca Bodie hailed the announcement as a landmark moment for the club and its supporters.

"Today is a historic day for Venezia FC and our community. The Bosco dello Sport will be our new home," Bodie said. "It will be an innovative, inclusive and sustainable stadium of the highest international standards."

End of an era at the Penzo

The relocation will bring the curtain down on Venezia's long stay at the Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, situated on the island of Sant'Elena. Reachable only by boat or on foot, the historic ground has long been constrained by its limited capacity and ageing facilities, issues that have repeatedly hampered the club's ambitions.

Venice mayor Simone Venturini described the agreement as the conclusion of decades of discussion over a modern football venue for the city.

"After decades of debates and words, the dream of a modern and functional stadium is finally something we can touch," Venturini said. "It will be the home of Venezia FC, but also a source of opportunities for the whole area."

The new stadium is scheduled to be inaugurated in the second half of the 2027-28 season, marking a decisive new chapter for the Lagunari both on and off the pitch.