Italy is, without a doubt, the sacred land of football. It has some of the best clubs in the world and the second-most-winning national team. How could it not be otherwise? Italy also boasts some of the best football fields in Europe and the world.
In this sense, the Stadio Friuli stands out for its incredible structure and architecture and for the matches it hosts. The stadium sees the home games of Udinese, one of the best teams in Italian Calcio.
If you are eager to know more about this incredible piece of football architecture, keep reading this short article and find out everything about it.
Table of Contents
- The Stadio Friuli | A Football Gem in Údine, Italy
- What Is Stadio Friuli?
- Stadio Friuli Location
- Stadio Friuli Key Features and Amenities
- Stadio Friuli Architecture
- A Brief History of the Stadio Friuli
- Matches that Took Place in the Stadio Friuli During the Italy 1990 FIFA World Cup
- How to Get Stadio Friuli Tickets
- Additional Events that Took Place in the Stadio Friuli
- The Stadio Friuli, a Majestic Football Arena in Italy You Can Replicate with FootballTeam!
What Is Stadio Friuli?
The Stadio Friuli, also known as Dacia Arena or Bluenergy Stadium, is an important football stadium in the Italian Calcio and the Italian Serie A. It has been the stadium of Udinese Calcio since 1976, the year it was inaugurated. Over the years, the Stadio Friuli has undergone several changes and renovations, with the 2016 renovation standing out.
By then, the Friuli Stadium had changed its name to Dacia Arena when the new stadium was inaugurated. Nowadays, the Stadio Friuli remains one of the few stadiums in Europe owned by the home team.
Stadio Friuli Location
The Stadio Friuli is in the city of Udine, the capital of the province of the same name, in northeastern Italy. Like most stadiums in Italy, it is on the outskirts of the city, a few kilometers from the city centre. Specifically, it is northwest of the city of Udine.
How to Get to the Stadio Friuli?
There are two possibilities if you want to reach the stadium by car:
- From the A23 Motorway:
- From Venezia-Trieste: Come off at Udinese Sud and continue through Tangenziale Ovest. Take exit Stadio Friuli – Ospiti Curva Sud.
- From Tarvisio: Come off at Udinese Nord and continue through Tangenziale Ovest. Take exit Città Fiera – Stadio.
- From central Udine:
- Just follow the road that is signed with “Stadio” in the direction of Spilimbergo.
You can also get to the stadium by bus. Take bus 9, which connects the stadium with the central train station and the center of Udinese. The trip takes about twenty minutes. Get off at Via Mainiero.
Stadio Friuli Key Features and Amenities
The new Dacia Arena seeks to bring fans closer to the football experience and the players. In this new design, there are no physical barriers that separate the crew from the playing field (just a small fence) because the general idea behind the new stadium is to create a safe space for children and families.
The new 25,132 seats on the three new sides are covered to protect fans from sun and rain. Furthermore, spectators can clearly witness football from all corners of the stadium.
- Pitch size: 105 x 58 meters
- Capacity: 25,132 spectators
- Surface: Desso GrassMaster
- Address: Friuli Stadium, Piazzale Argentina 3, Località Rizzi, Udine
- Owner: Udinese Calcio SPA
Family Amenities
Stadio Friuli is the first family stadium in Italy and one of the first in all of Europe to implement features and services designed for new fathers, mothers-to-be, and all types of families.
In this way, the stadium has special toilets equipped with changing tables, special menus for children, play areas, babysitting services, areas with bottle warmers, family parking, and much more. Thanks to these services, visitors and football fans will be able to enjoy days off with family and friends without problems.
24/7 Services in Three Different Levels
The Dacia Arena features three levels with unique shops and services that visitors can use 24/7. On the ground floor, you can visit sports shops, a gym, leisure areas, and family services. The first floor is for the football experience and will soon house the Sports Museum. The second floor has spaces for special events, offices, VIP areas, and more.
Stadio Friuli Architecture
After completing the reconstruction of the main grandstand and the stands behind the goals and the Tribuna Distinti (the main stand to the east), the architects implemented a new concept of modern architecture in the stadium, especially on the façade.
The new design involves using solar energy to heat the facilities and provide electricity to some areas of the stadium. In this way, the new stadium proposes a sustainable architecture that enhances the new areas (North, South and East galleries).
The photovoltaic plant (the roof) includes a geothermal heat pump, and the photovoltaic cells work together with a biomass plant and an absorption chiller for cooling and heating. These plants would feed the new areas that host non-sports functions (training facilities, restaurants, wellness areas, etc.).
A Brief History of the Stadio Friuli
Until 1976, Udinese played its home games near the city center, at the Stadio Moretti. The stadium took the name of Birra Moretti, the famous beer brand from Udine. But as you can see in the image above, the stadium was precarious and was soon replaced by the new project.
The Stadio Friuli was designed by Giulando Parmegiani. Construction began in 1971 and finished in 1976. The new stadium was inaugurated with a match between Udinese and Seregno. The Stadio Friuli underwent major renovations for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.
In 2012, the stadium’s capacity decreased to around 30,000 seats. The new plan removed the running track and built simple stands, preserving the iconic arch of the main stand.
The new stadium was officially opened in 2016 and changed its name to Dacia Arena, thanks to the sponsorship of the Romanian car manufacturer Automobile Dacia. This final design permanently eliminated the athletics track.
Matches that Took Place in the Stadio Friuli During the Italy 1990 FIFA World Cup
The Stadio Friuli hosted three of the matches of group E of the round group of the Italy 1990 FIFA World Cup.
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Round | Attendants |
| June 13, 1990 | Uruguay | 0 – 0 | Spain | Round Group – E | 35,713 |
| June 17, 1990 | South Korea | 1 – 3 | Spain | Round Group – E | 32,733 |
| June 21, 1990 | South Korea | 0 – 1 | Uruguay | Round Group – E | 29,039 |
How to Get Stadio Friuli Tickets
You can buy tickets to Udinese matches through the stadium’s official website, in person at the Udinese Store at the stadium, or through other online services, such as footballticketnet.
Remember that tickets to crucial matches against opposite teams, such as A.C. Milan, Juventus, or Inter Milan, are difficult to get, so you should buy them in advance. You should easily get tickets to matches against other teams.
Additional Events that Took Place in the Stadio Friuli
Important soccer and rugby matches and tournaments have taken place here, as have music events such as Pink Floyd, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and Metallica. Pope John Paul II also presided over a holy mass in the stadium in front of 30,000 people in 1992.
The Stadio Friuli, a Majestic Football Arena in Italy You Can Replicate with FootballTeam!
The Udinese stadium is everything fans could expect from a modern football stadium. The Stadio Friuli balances modernity with a unique spectator experience, which is crucial when watching the best matches in Italian football’s Serie A.
Once the works were completed, the Friuli Stadium gained prestige and class, becoming one of the most comfortable football stadiums in Italy and Europe. So, choose your seat and watch your next Serie A football match. Chances are it will be one to remember.
You can replicate this close experience between fans and team members by playing FootballTeam, since this football manager allows you to create your stadium and manage it as you wish! Live this experience of administering your own club and touch the stars in the football pitch in your next game!
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