F.C. Lugano SA held a media briefing on the morning of Wednesday 27 May, marking the first press conference organised in the new Press Conference Room at the AIL Arena. The event was designed to provide an update on some of the club’s key projects, starting with the new stadium and the Opening Weekend, scheduled for Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May.
The meeting was opened by Martin Blaser, Vice-President and CEO of F.C. Lugano SA. He was followed by Diego Caccavale, Head of Events, Giovanni Di Stefano, Chief Revenue Officer, and Andrea Ruberti, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, who are jointly responsible for the organisation and communication of the opening event.
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FIRST OFFICIAL
EVENTS The press conference also provided an opportunity to reiterate the process leading up to the AIL Arena becoming fully operational. In recent weeks, the new stadium has already hosted several pre-opening events, including functions for partners, institutional meetings, internal gatherings and training days for the operational staff who will be involved in managing the facility.
In this context, the Club emphasised the importance of the first fixtures on the calendar. Following the Opening Weekend, the AIL Arena will host the new stadium’s first official match on Friday 5 June, featuring the clash between the Swiss women’s team and Malta in the qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. From July onwards, however, the new phase linked to the 2026/27 season will begin, alongside the men’s first team’s first official fixtures at the Bianconeri’s new home.
THE OPENING
WEEKEND The focus of the press conference was on the Opening Weekend, designed as an event open to the city, the fans and anyone interested in discovering the new AIL Arena up close.
The event will consist of two main parts. The first is the Self Tour, which will allow participants to access some of the stadium’s most iconic areas, including the press room, changing rooms, gym and pitch entrance. The tour will last approximately 45 minutes and will be organised via time slots, with registration required to enter the stadium.
Alongside the tour, the Fan Village will be set up in the southern area of the AIL Arena. Entry will be free and will not require registration. The area will feature music, entertainment, activities for families and fans, food and drink stands, partner activations, merchandise and an information point dedicated to season tickets for the 2026/27 season.
Particular attention has also been paid to transport. Those who have registered for the Self Tour will receive a digital ticket that includes free use of public transport within the Arcobaleno fare zone. The Club recommends travelling to the area by public transport, thanks in part to the enhanced services on certain local public transport routes and the planned connections to the Cornaredo area.
Interest in the event is already very high: by the morning of the press conference, there were 7,520 registrations for the Self Tour.
2026/27
SEASON TICKETS Towards the end of the meeting, the Club also provided an update on the season ticket campaign for the 2026/27 season, the first at the new AIL Arena.
The figure announced is 2,403 season tickets sold out of the 4,240 seats made available for the season’s campaign. This number is already higher than the 1,714 season tickets sold in the season just ended and is set to rise in the coming weeks, thanks in part to the impact of the Opening Weekend and the chance for many fans to experience the bianconeri’s new home from the inside for the first time.
The journey towards the new season therefore continues with a pivotal moment for the life of the Club and the city. The AIL Arena is preparing to open its doors, whilst the “La Città scende in campo” campaign enters its final phase alongside the fans.
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