San Nicola Stadium, Bari

All projectsSan Nicola Stadium, Bari

The spaceship is ready to take off!

Italy

San Nicola Stadium, located in the city of Bari, is the largest sports facility in southern Italy. Designed by Renzo Piano, the stadium now shines in bright colours after the official debut on the occasion of the Italy-Malta match, a crucial fixture in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

In preparation for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Bari was chosen as one of the 12 Italian host cities. The need for a new stadium for this prestigious sporting event led to the renowned architect Renzo Piano being entrusted with the project, and he fondly nicknamed the new stadium the 'Spaceship' due to its striking modern design.

The initial plan aimed for a covered football stadium with 45,000 seats, arranged in two concentric rings. The lower ring was situated upon an artificial hill, while the upper ring was designed to create the illusion of being suspended in the air. For safety considerations, the architect divided the upper part of the second ring into 26 "petals," each positioned 8 meters apart. This arrangement facilitated the isolation of visiting fan groups and prevented clashes between rival supporters. Consequently, the stadium's seating was increased to its current capacity of 58,270 seats. In 2007, it was officially recognized by decree for its 'particular artistic character' owing to its indisputable architectural quality and its role in advancing sports facility design, including the layout and distribution of the stands, service structures, accessibility, and structural innovations.

Year

2023

Project

San Nicola Stadium

Location

Bari, Italy

Client

Municipality of Bari

Product specification and installation

Edilelettra Srl

Architect

Renzo Piano

In 2023, as part of a major renovation plan for the entire sports complex, strongly supported by the city’s mayor Antonio Decaro and the Councillor for Environment and Sports of the Municipality of Bari, Pietro Petruzzelli, a brand-new lighting system was required to breathe new life into the stadium. A new colour-changing mood was required to highlight the exterior petals of the stadium in bright, saturated hues to reflect the identity of the local, national, or hosted football teams, as needed. Moreover, a remarkable reduction in energy consumption costs was expected by the Bari municipality to align with their sustainability guidelines.

Carried out by the company Edilelettra Srl, the installation of the lighting fixtures was intended to deliver a uniform splash of bright light to the 26 giant petals surrounding the oval structure of the arena. To achieve this, 1 Capital 100, along with 1 Capital 200, both in RGBW color configuration, were installed on two poles located in front of each of the 26 petals. 52 units of Capital 100 were therefore used to highlight the lower part of the petals, while an additional 52 units of Capital 200 tasked with illuminating their upper surfaces. Capital 100 B fixtures, equipped with anti-glare beehive filters, were chosen to provide functional lighting for the service stairs leading the audience to their seats. To complete the lighting scheme, several Capital 300 RGBW units, mounted head-down, enhance the two concrete lift and functional towers of the structure.

Due to the stadium's design, which separates the upper and lower sections, creating gaps between the two rings and between each of the petals, the colourful illumination from the exterior perimeter reflects into the stadium, enriching the stands and terraces with the same vibrant hues.

The entire system is managed by an innovative wireless system, involving the use of one DMX receiver installed on each of the 52 poles situated around the stadium's perimeter. These receivers, in conjunction with DMX repeaters and transmitters, enable the seamless management of the 104 lighting fixtures, which operate in perfect harmony according to preset colour schemes. Moreover, this wireless system not only enables substantial reductions in installation time and labor expenses but also completely eliminates the need for cables, aligning with the city's commitment to environmental sustainability. The city's mayor and the Councillor Pietro Petruzzelli, to whom we extend our gratitude for the trust they have placed in us, take great pride in the significant 56% reduction in energy consumption achieved with the new lighting systems compared to the previous one.

The national football team's return to Bari after 6 years was gorgeously celebrated with a stunning blue illumination that enlivened the entire area, bringing joy to the fans and bestowing good luck upon our team!

Credits:
Client: Municipality of Bari
Installation: Edilelettra Srl
Video footage: Edilelettra Srl
Pictures: Raffaele Vincelli

Installed fixtures:
4x AL5014SPRNRGS CAPITAL 300 RGBW SPOT RGB+W 4000K
53x AL5005EWRNRGS CAPITAL 100 RGBW EXTRA WIDE
53x AL5010EWRNRGS CAPITAL 200 RGBW EXTRA WIDE
52x AL5038EW40FGP CAPITAL 100 B 4000K W EXTRA WIDE
52x AL8272 BEEHIVE FILTERS FOR CAPITAL 100
52x AL3620 IP65 WIRELESS DMX RECEIVER
2xAL3364 IP65 WIRELESS DMX TRANSMITTER
5xAL3366 IP65 WIRELESS DMX REPEATER
2XAL3360 IP65 WIRELESS DMX RECEIVER
1x AL1424 WALL-TSC
1x AL1321 INFRARED REMOTE CONTROL