Brescia announce stadium plan

Brescia Calcio have announced that they are planning to move to a new purpose-built stadium in 2005.

All-seater stadium
The Serie A side announced today that the stadium will be a 25,000 all-seater and fully-covered arena. It will be built in Castenedolo on the outskirts of the northern city and will also feature a shopping centre.

Target 2005
The club hope that the project will be ready in time for the start of the 2005/06 season. Unlike their current Mario Rigamonti stadium, which is rented from the city council, Brescia will own the new venue and finance it through private capital.

Baggio happy
"I'm really happy. It's really good for the club," said Brescia's most famous player, the former Italian international Roberto Baggio. "But it will be ready in 2005 when I will be almost 40. I don't think I will be playing then but I hope that [coach] Carlo Mazzone will still be at the club."

President delighted
Brescia president Luigi Corioni added: "We have been wishing to have a new stadium for ten years and now there are no more hurdles. The new stadium will be beautiful and modern. I think our current stadium costs us ten points every season."