Catania - Stadio Angelo Massimino - Capacity: 21,386 All Seater
About the Stadio Angelo Massimino The Stadio Angleo Massimio is a typical Italian stadium, named after the former president who died in 1996. It is a municipal stadium, meaning it is owned by the local government and has an athletics track. Only one side of the stadium is covered, although the weather on the island of Sicily means that warm barmy nights are more common than the cold wet nights you get in Milan or Turin.
The stadium originally opened in 1937 and has change little since. On most occasions it is a quiet venue, but add into the mix opponents like Palermo, Messina or Reggio and the stadium becomes a caldron. It was at the game versus Palermo last year that crowd violence outside the stadium led to the death of a police officer, and the stadium was subsequently closed for four months.
There has been talk for many years about the construction of a new stadium in the Pantao d’Arci area of the city which would hold over 33,000. Initial designs for the stadium are certainly futuristic, although at the moment they have still to make it off the drawing board.
Who plays there? Catania Calcio have had a remarkable history, and their current stint in the top flight is their most successful. The club have played in Serie A before – having won the Serie B title in 1954, and then again in 1960 when they stayed in the top league for six seasons. During the 1970’s the club began to fall down the leagues, and in 1993 due to financial irregularities they were demoted to the Sicilian Eccellenza – the sixth level of Italian football. Less than ten years later they had made it back to Serie B. The following season the club were at the centre of the scandal known as Caso Catania.
Catania claimed in Siena had fielded an ineligible player in a game versus Catania that ultimately led to their relegation from Serie B. The FIGC initially awarded Catania a 2-0 win which was enough to save the club, but on appeal this was overturned. Catania took the case to the high court and they re-awarded the club 2-0 win. In a measure of surrender, the FIGC then decided to expand the league to 24 teams to allow all three “relegated” teams to stay in the league, and added Fiorentina (themselves on their way back from a financial crisis) for good measure.
Last season the club averaged just over 16,000 before events off the pitch led to the closure of the stadium until the end of the season.
How to get there The stadium is located just outside the centre of the city, close to Villa Bellini. From the station it is a 20 minute walk down Via VI Aprile, along via A di San Giuliano and then north up Via Forlanini to the stadium. Bus line 503 runs towards the stadium every 20 minutes and cost €0.80 each way.
For a more detailed view on who plays where on the island go to Footiemap.com.
Getting a ticket Please note that ticket arrangements in Italy are currently some of the most stringent in Europe and buying a ticket on the day of the game is now very hard indeed. Whenever and wherever you purchase a ticket in advance you will have to prove your identity so carry around your passport. Catania sell tickets through the Lottomaticca network in and around the town centre as well as online via http://www.listicket.it. Ticket prices vary according to the opposition. For a grade A game (AC, Inter, Juventus, Palermo, Napoli and Reggina) a place in the Tribune costs €50, whereas a seat amongst the VIP’s is €180. For a grade B game then tickets are €40 and €140 respectively.
Fan Report The following report has been put together by website regular Richard from a recent trip
"We arrived in Catania the day before and bought the tickets immediately. I don't know whether it would have been possible to buy them on the day of the match even though no Palermo fans were allowed into this game. You can buy tickets from the places listed on Catania's website through the link 'prevendita biglietti'. We bought ours from the outlet on Corso Indipendenza which was about 20 minutes walk from our B&B.
We stayed at the Catania City Center B&B which is fantastic value and ideal for a short stay. There is a ticket outlet on the same road as the stadium, Via Giuseppe Fava. You need your passport when you buy the tickets and when you go to the game as your name is printed on the tickets and is usually checked before you go in. They've been doing this at Serie A and B games for the last 4 seasons but not at the one Serie C game we've been to in that time.
We bought tickets for Tribuna A for 75 euros each as Tribuna B (40 Euros) was sold out. Tribuna A is the only covered section of the ground and we had a perfect view. As far as I remember there are no seats with obstucted views. There is a running track around the pitch. Tribuna B goes down to pitch level and is separated from the pitch by a perspex/glass barrier with jagged metal on top which would slightly obscure the view from certain seats. Tickets for the Curve are 20 Euros. The railway station is a straightforward 30/40 minutes walk to the ground. I would turn left immediately you leave the station and walk alongside the line for about 150 yards before crossing the road on your right. Then look for the long, staight, Via Antonio San Giuliano and walk up it until you reach the main street which is Via Etnea where you should turn right. Continue up Etnea until you turn left at Via Regina Margherita/Viale SettembreXX.
Continue down Regina Margherita,which is called Viale Mario Rapisardi after a while, and Via Giuseppe Fava is on your right. From Etnea onwards this is a pleasant walk through a nice part of Catania with a few good restaurants and bars on the way. I'm not sure which bus you would catch but tickets (which have to be bought at a Tabacchi) only cost 1 euro and are valid for trips anywhere in the city for 90 minutes after you first get on a bus. I hope some of this is useful. There was a good atmosphere at the match even without away fans. I am sure tickets for Tribuna B would be available for most games and if it's not raining I think that's where I would sit if I went there again. "
Getting around The main public transport option in the city is the network of ATC buses, with tickets costing €0.80. Remember to punch your ticket when you board in the orange machines. The main centre of the city is easily transversed on foot.
Catania airport is located 3 miles south of the city and has grown to be one of the biggest in Italy, handling over 6 million passengers per annum. The airport is linked to the city centre by the Alibus service which runs every 20 minutes and takes less than 15 minutes. It costs €0.80 each way, or a taxi will cost €15.
The airport is currently served by British Airways and Air Malta on a daily basis from London Gatwick.
About the Stadio Angelo Massimino