Stadium Situation A Major Factor In Potential AS Roma Takeover

The expected takeover of AS Roma by Dan Friedkin comes as the U.S. investors who own the club have "repeatedly expressed their disappointment" with Rome’s local authorities for "failing to adequately upgrade or relocate the Stadio Olimpico," which AS Roma shares with local rival Lazio. AS Roma Chair James Pallotta wrote in a tweet in May, "Maybe a new stadium, big investment and lots of new jobs in Rome is not that important. If fans want a new stadium, they need to demand action." A source said that Friedkin is expected to "go ahead with a plan to build a stadium for AS Roma." An existing project "could be approved by the city’s municipality" early in '20, according to Italian media (FINANCIAL TIMES, 12/29).

Shares in Roma "shot up more than 9% at the open in Milan on Monday but pared gains to stand 4.4% up" as of publication on Monday (REUTERS, 12/30). American investment bank Goldman Sachs has been "assisting with the acquisition, with due diligence said to be close" to being finalized (FORBES, 12/29).