Montichiari Eyes New Stadium Amid Regional Support and Commercial Expansion
The message is clear and direct: “Yes to the new stadium, no to new shopping centers.” The public statement from Montichiari’s mayor Gianantonio Rosa, issued yesterday at 3 p.m. as a press release, accelerates the pursuit of Brescia’s new stadium project.
The facility is increasingly heading toward Montichiari. This is especially true now that the Comune bassaiolo has opened its doors to the Rigamonti-bis project. Rosa does not go into detail, but it is known that the area Brescia Calcio, the project’s lead, has targeted is located in the (partly agricultural, partly neglected) zone across from Ristora, on the left side of the Goitese road when heading from Brescia toward Montichiari.
Area and project of the new facility
Adjacent to the border with Castenedolo, the Montichiari urban development plan already designates an area for 600,000 square meters of industrial use. The new stadium could be built near this area, along with significant associated facilities that make the project attractive for private investors. A €100 billion operation, with Brescia Calcio as the lead, but not the sole player (ideal partners: large construction groups, preferably local).
Regarding this hypothesis, the Lega-mayor of Montichiari had remained very reserved so far. Many meetings, but few public statements. Yesterday, there was a turning point. It indicates that an agreement has been almost finalized, and a program agreement involving the Region, Province, and interested municipalities (Montichiari, Castenedolo, and possibly Calcinato, due to territorial contiguity) will give the final approval.
Position of Mayor Rosa
Returning to Rosa’s statements, in response to advances from the company headed by Gino Corioni, he announces “the willingness of the municipal administration to identify a suitable site within its territory for the new stadium.” Rosa emphasizes “the vagueness of contacts” so far with Brescia Calcio, and clarifies that he does not have “a concrete and detailed proposal to consider.”
Nonetheless, the Montichiari mayor is cautious and underlines that “the municipal administration does not intend to promote new shopping centers, but only activities compatible with the local and regional economic fabric.” The issue of shopping centers has indeed become a recurring theme for the Montichiari administration.
Permits and commercial developments
In December, the municipal council approved the zoning plan for the Isola Verde, the large commercial center of 70,000 square meters planned for Vighizzolo on the site of the former Valentini. However, the regional-level service conference has so far only declared the project admissible, while the Province has already raised objections and criticisms regarding traffic flow.
Could the difficulties encountered push commercial development close to the stadium? Rosa’s declaration seems to close the door on this solution.
But what will make building the new stadium economically viable? It is known that the stadium, with its six thousand external parking spaces, will occupy an area of 250-300 thousand square meters (60-70 thousand for the stadium itself, the rest for parking).
There is also another area, currently unquantified, planned to host commercial and leisure facilities. Discussions include gyms, fitness centers, restaurants, sports shops, and even a multiplex cinema.
Existing commercial activities in the area could relocate to the new site. Among the questions to consider is the possibility of a single showroom for multiple automakers interested in shared exhibition space with a test-track for cars.
However, this already leads to operational solutions. The upcoming work for designers Mario Abba and Massimo Marai will focus on detailed planning of the stadium — an innovative structure, complete with balconies and a thousand external parking spaces beneath the stands reserved for “vip” guests — its integration into the environmental context, and the commercial infrastructure that Montichiari will deem compatible.
Special attention should also be paid to clear directives from Gianantonio Rosa: “The traffic management and public order — writes the Montichiari mayor — must be carefully evaluated through active involvement of the relevant municipal administrations and under the coordination of the Province, led by President Cavalli, which is responsible for inter-municipal and provincial level assessments, especially concerning traffic, sports, recreational, and commercial activities within the scope of territorial planning.”
