AS Roma stadium: "Goal to break ground in 2015, opening still expected in 2017" (Mark Pannes)

"We have always had a goal to break ground in 2015 and we are on track. It went really well today. The opening is still expected in 2017," said Mark Pannes, the CEO of the new stadium project (52,500 seats) of AS Roma (Serie A TIM) following his meeting with the mayor of Rome (ITA), Ignazio Marino, on 24/03/2015.

"It allows us to get direct feedback from the city in real time about the project, which is a big project and very complex. They (the mayor's office) have been very helpful as we steer our way to bringing this stadium to life," said Mark Pannes. "The club must file the full project by 15/06/2015. Naturally, we await further developments of this important project, which involves a large number of international companies," said Ignazio Marino, the mayor of Rome.

• AS Roma currently play in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome (72,700 seats), inaugurated in 1953 and renovated for the 1990 World Cup.
• The club rents the stadium from CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee), the same as SS Lazio, the other tenant of the enclosure.