Presidio Investors acquires Italian club and plans construction of new stadium; Former Roma executive takes over as president
Hellas Verona, an Italian Serie A club, was acquired by , an investment fund based in San Diego, California. The transaction was announced this Thursday (16 January 2025), with the transfer of 100% control of the club from Maurizio Setti to the private equity company.
Italo Zanzi, former AS Roma executive, has been appointed executive president. The value of the acquisition is estimated at between 120 million and 130 million euros, including the club’s debts, according to the Italian newspaper Football and Finance. With this transaction, Hellas Verona becomes the ninth Serie A team to be controlled by North American investors.
Presidio Capital, founded in 2007, operates in the private equity market with a focus on investments in medium-sized companies in the media, entertainment, technology and financial services sectors. The company manages more than $1 billion in assets and has a history of investing in growth-stage companies.
The presence of North American investors in Italian football has grown in the last 5 years. Hellas Verona joins other clubs such as Milan, Roma, Fiorentina and Spezia under North American control. In the 2024/2025 season, the club occupies 14th place in Series A, with 20 points in 21 games played.
The municipality of Verona is following the change of ownership with special attention to the project of the new stadium. A meeting between the new owners and City Hall is scheduled to define the details of the construction, which must be presented by March 10, 2025, according to the Corriere del Veneto.
The project envisages the construction of a multi-purpose arena on the site of the current Bentegodi stadium. During the works, a temporary stadium with capacity for 20 thousand people will be used to accommodate the club’s more than 16 thousand fan members. The new structure will have capacity for between 30,000 and 41,000 spectators and will host football matches, sporting and cultural events.
The stadium, which will meet UEFA requirements for the 2032 European Championship, will remain under municipal ownership. The private investor will be responsible for financing the construction and managing the space for a specified period, including regulating the use of the structure by Hellas Verona.
“This is a historic moment for the club and for the city of Verona. Our vision is to develop a modern structure that benefits not only the football team, but the entire community”declared Italo Zanzi, the club’s new executive president.
