The 2011 Six Nations is now into its third round. One of the things, apart from the rugby, that has caught my eye is the growing crowds in Italy for the Six Nations and other Test matches.
At the moment Italy play the majority of their matches out of the Stadio Flamino in Rome, which has a capacity of 32,000 and is the smallest stadia in the Six Nations, currently.
The past two home Six Nations matches the Italians have played against the Irish and Welsh this year have been played in front of full capacity crowds of 32,000.
Yet, this is not the first time they have played in front of capacity crowds at the Stadio Flamino. A casual look in the records show that for their two home Six Nations matches in 2010, they had a 31,876 crowd for the match against England and a full house for the match against the Scots, which they won.
The biggest crowd they had last year was the EOYT against Australia at Stadio Artemio Franchi (capacity: 47,290), where they had 40,127 fans show up.
Not to forget the 80,074 that showed up at San Siro in 2009 for the Italy versus All Blacks match.
A suggestion I would throw out to The Roar readers is for the Italians to play out of Stadio Artemio Franchi, and if they had a big home Six Nations matches against France or England, then perhaps the match could be moved to San Siro.
Do any of the Roarers have other ideas?
Antonio
Roar Rookie
I agree with Gho. Perhaps ensure at least one good quality game is played in Rome and the remaining one or two in another city. This would help expose the game elswhere and allow others a chance to see the national team.
Gho
Guest
I think France and Italy (the physically larger of the European sizes) should spread games across the country. It would make it easier for fans in 'regional' areas to visit games and in Italys case provide a boost to income.
kovana
Guest
Just read some reports now they could either moves the Stadio Olimpico as Marcel just posted.. As well as a Stadium in Genoa... Which would most likely be Stadio Luigi Ferraris with capacity of 36,536.. But another report states that the Italy RU are just going to expand the Stadio Flamino to 42,000.
Marcel Proust
Guest
I believe they're moving to another stadium in Rome. I forget which one, but it has been discussed in the British media. Perhaps not the Stadio Olimpico, however: it holds 70,000 + and they could have a few problems filling that.
ptovey01
Roar Pro
These guys have improved so much in the last 5 years. I remember watching them at Flamino in 2007 against France and they looked like they had pulled a bunch of blokes off the street. But to their credit, they got back up and possibly had their best year to date. Flogging Scotland at Murrayfield (I still rub that into my Scottish friends) and beating Wales, and I think they came close to knocking off England. Currently, Italy seem to have sustainable figures coming through the gates, but what do they gain and loose by going? Will those current supporters go to the other stadiums? I doubt it. San Siro is 500 odd kms and Stadio Artemio Franchi is 300 Kms from Rome. I guess the question of should they move their games to a bigger stadia is the same which happens locally. Lets take the Tahs. They decide to move their games away from their natural home at the SFS and go to a stadium with no soul. Not enjoyable and then people say "stuff going out there". Slightly different situation as they are still in the same city, but what have they gained. They may have picked up a few people who would not go to the rugby at the SFS, but they have annoyed the loyal fans. In the Italians case there may be the argument that most of the rugby base is in the north anyway so why not put them up there. Either way it is something they should consider carefully.