A day of celebration for FC Lugano, the city and the whole region. To mark the first Brack Super League match played at the AIL Arena, an official ceremony was held before kick-off in the Lugano v Vaduz match, symbolically marking the inauguration of the bianconeri’s new home.
Speaking on the pitch were the Mayor of Lugano, Michele Foletti, the Deputy Mayor, Roberto Badaracco, and State Councillor Raffaele De Rosa, Director of the Department of Health and Social Affairs, accompanied by the Vice-President and CEO of FC Lugano, Martin Blaser.
A DREAM COME TRUE
Mayor Michele Foletti emphasised the significance of a day that the city and the local area had been awaiting for decades, describing it as a celebration not only for Lugano but for the whole region. In his speech, he thanked the many people who, starting with the 2012 architectural competition, had worked on bringing the project to fruition.
A special mention was made of Marco Borradori: “He championed and defended this project with all his heart,” recalled Foletti.
Deputy Mayor Roberto Badaracco, for his part, emphasised the desire to make the AIL Arena not just a sporting venue, but also a meeting place capable of uniting the community and providing excitement. In looking back over the long journey that led to the stadium’s construction, Badaracco acknowledged the designers, the City’s staff and HRS, reserving a special thank you for the local population: “On 21 November 2021, the citizens overwhelmingly endorsed this project. It was an unforgettable moment for us.”
A QUANTUM LEAP FORWARD FOR LUGANO AND TICINO
Raffaele De Rosa delivered the canton’s address, highlighting the value of collaboration between the public and private sectors: “This shows that when the public and private sectors work well together and pull in the same direction, we in Ticino can achieve great things.”
According to the State Councillor, the new stadium will enable Lugano and the canton to make a significant leap forward, allowing them to host international events and finally giving FC Lugano the chance to play their European matches at home.
De Rosa, who also recalled his own past as a player and coach in the lower leagues, spoke of “a tremendous thrill” at being able to experience the stadium’s inauguration in front of such a large and distinguished crowd.
THE SYMBOLIC PASS OF THE BALL
No traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. To mark the start of this new chapter, a gesture directly linked to football was chosen: Mayor Michele Foletti symbolically passed a football across the pitch of the AIL Arena to Martin Blaser, thereby giving the official ‘kick-off’ to the bianconeri’s new home.
The Bianconeri’s vice-chairman and CEO thanked the city for the trust and support shown to the club over recent years, before paying special tribute to owner Joe Mansueto: “For what he has been doing for the past five years and for the investments he has made here, he deserves a huge round of applause.”
A TRIBUTE TO EUGENIO JELMINI
The ceremony concluded with a moment dedicated to Eugenio Jelmini, who was presented with an award on the pitch by Martin Blaser in recognition of his contribution to the creation of the Sports and Events Centre and his long-standing association with FC Lugano.
As president of the ‘Io sostengo il polo’ association, Jelmini played a particularly active role in the weeks leading up to the historic referendum on 28 November 2021, helping to promote and support the project and to engage the local community in its realisation.
This is a tribute to a figure who has been a constant presence in the Club’s life for many years and who has played his part in a journey that has culminated today in another historic day for FC Lugano and its new home.
