As Juventus Stadium celebrates its five-year anniversary today, the club pays tribute to a defining moment in its long, illustrious history.
There can be no doubt that the Old Lady has enjoyed one of the most successful spells over the course of her existence since the iconic arena opened its arms to the public for the first time on 8 September 2011 for a stunning opening ceremony and inauguration match against Notts County.
“You could tell that something had changed,” was Andrea Barzagli’s instant reaction to the feeling of playing in front of a full house on that magical night. And the 128 games to have followed have proved the defender to be precisely right.
Cheered on week after week, campaign after campaign by their unrelenting ‘twelfth man’, the Bianconeri have amassed a remarkable 100 wins within Juventus Stadium’s gleaming walls, scoring 272 goals, lifting five Scudetto titles and two Coppa Italia crowns, whilst treating spectators to an exciting brand of football befitting of their status as Italy’s most prestigious club.
Built on the site of the former Delle Alpi, Juventus Stadium has commanded total attendances of just over five million, registered record-breaking season ticket sales and hosted approximately 13,000 Stadium Tours, proudly demonstrating its world-class facilities to those visiting from all corners of the globe.
Its charm and appeal have had a profound impact on the Turin tourism circuit, with the stadium and adjacent J-Museum becoming must-see attractions for anyone paying a visit to the capital of Piedmont.
And in March this year, the ground added to its ever-expanding armoury of facilities with the unveiling of J-Medical, a state-of-the-art health centre benefitting not only the club’s footballing stars but also members of the local community.
The words "Juventus" and "Stadium" are also to be associated with an exhilarating matchday experience, recently enhanced by spectacular light shows mesmerising crowds before kick-off, whilst remaining fully family-oriented and child-friendly thanks to top-of-the-range security and an array of entertainment ranging from make-up artists and puppeteers to a most amiable mascot in zany zebra Jay.
A standard-bearer of excellence for stadia in Italy and beyond, the Bianconeri’s ground is gaining the international recognition it deserves, with the venue for 2014's Europa League final now priming itself ahead of hosting the Azzurri’s World Cup qualifier against Spain on 6 October.
Despite enjoying an unforgettable introduction to life, Juventus Stadium, just like the team it houses, will not rest on its laurels. The development is constantly expanding and innovating, as shown by last month's implementation of new safety technology at the ground’s turnstiles, and is always looking for the next addition to keep its standards at the very top.
And with this philosophy at the forefront of the club’s thinking, the jewel in the Bianconeri’s crown is certain to sparkle and relish many more memorable birthday celebrations in the years to come.
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