Cantù Arena Nears Completion After Thirty Years of Waiting
Construction work along corso Europa is moving at a rapid pace toward the opening of the new Cantù Arena, a project designed to serve as a modern home for Pallacanestro Cantù. After more than thirty years of waiting and unfulfilled promises, the facility has taken physical shape, with interior work underway for several weeks, ilgiorno.it reported.
A Forty Million Euro Investment Backed by Public-Private Partnership
The project represents an investment of approximately 40 million euros, forming part of a broader 50-million-euro operation managed through a public-private partnership with the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo under the Legge Stadi framework. The structure spans three levels across a total area of roughly 30,000 square meters. The architectural design was handled by MMA Projects, with financial backing from a pool of banks including Intesa Sanpaolo and BCC Cantù, alongside contributions from Finlombarda and Regione Lombardia.
Capacity, Amenities, and the Pavilion Milestone
The main arena will accommodate up to 5,200 spectators for basketball events, featuring eight sky boxes, three VIP lounges, an outdoor event plaza complete with a 3×3 basketball court, and over 2,000 square meters dedicated to retail stores, offices, and dining services. A major preliminary milestone was reached on August 17, 2026, with the inauguration of the Pavilion—a 150-seat secondary gymnasium that enabled Pallacanestro Cantù to hold the first historical training session of its ninetieth season on site.
Construction Timeline and February 2027 Opening
While the squad trains in the secondary facility, construction crews are pushing toward the final completion of the main arena. The official opening and the first official matches inside the primary venue are scheduled for February 2027. This milestone follows a complex and uphill path that officially began with the opening of the construction site on March 6, 2024, which finally brought an end to an intricate bureaucratic and legal dispute alongside extensive land decontamination work on the corso Europa site.
Operational Management and Surging Club Budgets
Operational pre-opening and management duties have been handed over to the American multinational Legends Global, which will oversee day-to-day facility operations, catering, and food and beverage services. A schedule of initial events blending sports fixtures, shows, and concerts is slated for disclosure in November. Fueling this transformation is a rapidly expanding club structure: Cantù Next saw its budget double from 3 million to 7 million euros for the 2025–2026 season, propelled by a 261 percent increase in sponsorships and a 43 percent rise in attendance under the leadership of club president Roberto Allievi and a merchandising rebranding managed by Sent.
