After the 2026 Internationals, the roofing work on the tennis center will begin, destined to become a 13,500-seat multifunctional arena suitable for hosting the new basketball team.
Rome wants to be ready. While the maneuvers to obtain continue a Capitoline team in the top championship that it is ready for the NBA’s arrival in Europe, there is important progress on the infrastructural front.
This is the message that emerged from Federal Council of the FIP performed yesterday at Coni Hall of Honourdove Sports and Health updated the leaders of Italian basketball on the future of Foro Italico.
A multifunctional arena
Marco Mezzaroma e Diego Nepi Molinerispresident and CEO of the company that manages the facility, confirmed that the roofing works on the Central Tennis Stadium will begin immediately after the conclusion of the Internationals of 2026.
A key passage, because it marks the beginning of transformation of the Centrale into a true multifunctional arenadestined to also become the new home of first-tier Roman basketball.
The timetable includes aacceleration compared to the initial hypothesesi: the retractable cover and structural renovation of the facility should be completed by summer 2027.
A timing not random, yes crosses paths with the NBA Europe projectthe new continental competition that the US league – in synergy with Fiba – aims to launch in October of the same year.
Details of the renovation works
In the basketball configuration, the new Central will be able to accommodate until 13,500 spectatorsan increase compared to the 12,700 places originally foreseen and numbers now aligned with the standards required by the NBA world.
But the scope of the intervention goes far beyond capacity. The declared objective is to deliver to Rome a modern and permanent arenainserted into a sports district of over 20 hectares: fan villages, logistics spaces, commercial areas, high-level hospitality, lounges, offices and panoramic windows.
Another strategic piece also fits into this context: in the coming months the Rai will leave the Auditorium next to the Olympic Stadiumwhich will return to the full availability of Sport and Health, further expanding the perimeter of the Forum.
The Centrale will no longer be linked only to the Internationals or large spot events, but will live twelve months a year between sports, concerts and shows. The overall investment estimated is approx 60 million euroswith the Capitoline administration continuing to closely follow the evolution of the dossier.
The NBA Europe project
Already last April the president of Fip Gianni Petrucci had indicated the Centrale as the ideal solution, after the visit to Rome of the FIBA general secretary Andreas Zagklis. And Zagklis himself, in recent weeks, has reiterated his desire to exploit the driving force of the 2027 World Cup in Doha to give definitive shape to NBA Europe.
In the meantime the US league has started to move on the investor front, officially introducing itself to London with a dedicated event, on the sidelines of the regular season matches played between Berlin and the British capital.
The project foresees 16 teams, 12 with permanent license and four on rotation. Roma e Milano they are the two Italian cities considered strategic, but the game is still open: investors look first of all at potential markets.
The subjects involved in the Capitoline dossier
On a corporate level, in fact, a ready franchise does not exist today: i Friedkin they denied involvement, while reality as Louis e Virtus Rome they do not have economic dimensions compatible with a project of this level.
The picture of Roman basketball remains in motion: external subjects remain in the background, with figures such as Ettore Messina e Zoran Savić who could become technical and managerial references.
The sporting title, in any case, would not be an obstacle: from Trieste it has already arrived availability for a possible transfer to the capitalbased on what we learned from La Repubblica Rome edition.
After the Trapani radiationthe relegation to Serie A2 should concern only one teamalthough the hypothesis of a block of relegations, reports the Milanese edition of The Corriere della Sera.
This solution would see the expansion of the championship to 18 clubsallowing the FIP to admit a Roman club to Serie A. In any case, the Eternal City must be ready: the dream passes through the Foro Italico.
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