Stadio Renzo Barbera

Stadio Renzo Barbera (previously known as Stadio La Favorita) is a multi-use stadium in Palermo, Italy. It is currently home of U.S. Città di Palermo football team. The stadium was inaugurated on 24 January 1932 and was named Stadio Littorio, as homage to the Fascism. The opening match was Palermo vs Atalanta and was won five to one by the latter team. A track surrounded the pitch and there were no stands behind the goals. In 1936 the stadium name became Stadio Michele Marrone, in memory of a soldier killed during the war in Spain. The name was changed again at the end of World War Two and became Stadio La Favorita, from the name of the nearby ancient game preserve of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor in the XIII century. In 1948 the track was eliminated and stands behind each goal were built. In 1984 the second main venue restructure started during which a second level to the stands was added thus reaching a capacity up to 50.000 onlookers. A third restructure ended in 1990. This is the last main restructure to which the venue was subjected and was undertaken because the city of Palermo had been chosen to host some of the 1990 FIFA World Cup First Round matches. The capacity of the stadium was lowered to the current 37500 seats. On 18 September 2002 the stadium was entitled to Renzo Barbera, past chairman of the football team.