The Italian football club Parma has announced that their 2026 season will be the last in Serie A, with plans to move to Genoa. The club is expected to announce its new home city and stadium location in the coming months.
The announcement was made by Parma's president, Maurizio Zamparini, during a press conference on Tuesday. He said that the decision to leave Serie A had been taken "after much consideration" and that the club would continue to compete at a high level in Italy's second tier league.
Zamparini also confirmed that the club would remain based in the Emilia-Romagna region, where it currently plays, but would no longer play at the Stadio Comunale in Parma. Instead, they will relocate to a new stadium in Genoa, which will be built specifically for the club.
The new stadium in Genoa is expected to have a capacity of up to 18,000 spectators, making it one of the largest stadiums in the city. It is also expected to be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technology, including a retractable roof and LED lighting.
Zamparini said that the move to Genoa was not only about improving the club's financial situation, but also about continuing to offer fans a world-class experience. He added that he hoped the new stadium would help to attract more international players to the club and improve its chances of success in the future.
The move to Genoa is likely to have a significant impact on the local economy, as the stadium will create jobs and generate revenue for the city. However, there have been concerns about the potential impact on local residents who may lose access to affordable housing due to the construction of the new stadium.
Despite these concerns, Zamparini remains optimistic about the move and believes that it will ultimately benefit both the club and the community. He said: "We are proud to be leaving Parma and moving to Genoa. We believe that this is the right decision for the long-term development of our club."