On 17 January 2016, the new stadium in Udine was finally ready, after the renovation works that made it one of the most modern and welcoming stadiums in the country. On Saturday, as Udinese will face Inter at Bluenergy Stadium, 10 years will have passed since Udinese’s first game in the stadium.
Since that game against Juventus in January 2016, there have been a total of 208 Udinese games in Serie A and Coppa Italia, for a total of 209 games. Of these, 72 were won by Udinese, with a total of 284 goals. Udinese’s first goal in the new stadium was scored by Emmanuel Badu, in the team’s first win, 2-0 against Hellas Verona on 28 February 2016.
There have been an average of 20,567 fans throughout these years who came to watch and support their team at Bluenergy Stadium (for Serie A matches, excluding the Covid period), with a steady increase that does not seem to want to slow down. During the final season with a full Stadio Friuli (2012/13 season), there were a total of 15,969 fans on average, while in the first entire season with the new stadium (2016/17), the number had risen to 17,287. A far cry from the average number of the current season, namely 22,393. The all-time record number of fans at the stadium dates back to 29 January 2017, when 26,008 fans came to see Udinese’s 2-1 win over Milan.
Throughout these 10 years, Bluenergy Stadium also hosted other important events: apart from top-level friendlies between Udinese and West Ham, Athletic Club and Chelsea, the new Udinese stadium also hosted the Italian national football team five times, the rugby national team twice – which will return in 2026 – four matches of the 2019 European Under-21 Championship, including the final between Spain and Germany, and the 2025 UEFA Super Cup, which was won by Paris-Saint Germain against Tottenham, the greatest sporting event ever to take place in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Moreover, since 2024 there has been a return of major concerts at Bluenergy Stadium, which has already hosted Zucchero and Negramaro and is preparing to welcome major names of the Italian musical scene, such as Vasco Rossi, Eros Ramazzotti and again Zucchero.
The new stadium has enabled the club to more than double its matchday revenues, organise ever greater and prestigious events and develop one of the most advanced hospitality services in Europe (Udinese Club House), as well as implement its sustainable vision. The Bluenergy Stadium ceiling also includes the first ever solar park to be built in an Italian stadium, which in turn led to the creation of the first Renewable Energy Community of Italian football. This project, combined with the absence of plastic in the stadium’s hospitality areas, the establishment of smoke-free areas and the widespread presence of recycling points, helps make Udinese’s stadium the greenest in Italy. The club is already focused on the facility’s future steps. With many projects that will make it an increasingly important benchmark for the community, with the stated goal of minimising its environmental impact.
Throughout these ten years, much has changed and Udinese is increasingly focused on the future with its modern and functioning house, which is added value for the entire city and Friuli Venezia Giulia, acting as a powerhouse for tourism and the economy. However, the passion of those who come to our stadium every weekend has and will remain the same.
Happy birthday, Bluenergy Stadium!