Stadio Artemio Franchi

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Template other The Stadio Artemio Franchi is a football stadium in Florence, Italy. It is currently the home of ACF Fiorentina. The old nickname of the stadium was "Comunale". When it was first constructed, it was known as the Stadio Giovanni Berta, after Florentine fascist Giovanni Berta.

The stadium was officially opened on 13 September 1931 with a match between Fiorentina and Admira Wien (1–0), though it took until 1932 for the stadium to be completely finished and currently holds 47,282. The architect is Pier Luigi Nervi (known for the Nervi Hall in the Vatican) and it is one of the most relevant examples of 20th-century architecture in the city. It hosted some of the matches of the 1934 World Cup, as well as football preliminaries for the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. In 1945, it hosted the Spaghetti Bowl between American service teams.

The stadium is built entirely of reinforced concrete with a 70 metre (230 ft) tower that bears the stadium's flagstaff. The tower is called the "Tower of Marathon". Around the base of the tower, spiral ramps lead from the ground floor to the upper edge of the grandstand. It was originally called the "Comunale" but was renamed after the former FIGC president, Artemio Franchi (1922–1983), in 1991. The stadium underwent renovations for the 1990 FIFA World Cup which included removing the running track and increasing the seating capacity. At the World Cup, the ground hosted three matches in Group A and Argentina's penalty shootout win over Yugoslavia in the quarter-finals.

The official record attendance is 58,271 on 25 November 1984, at a Serie A match between Fiorentina and Internazionale.

Concerts

David Bowie performed at the stadium during his Glass Spider Tour on 9 June 1987. Madonna performed, with Level 42 as her opening act, the final show of her Who's That Girl World Tour at the stadium on 6 September 1987. This performance was filmed and later released on VHS and DVD, titled Ciao, Italia! – Live from Italy. She performed at the stadium again 25 years later on 16 June 2012 to a sold-out crowd of 42,434 people during her MDNA Tour. Bruce Springsteen performed on 8 June 2003 at the stadium during his The Rising Tour and on 10 June 2012 for the Wrecking Ball World Tour, in front of 42,658 people. It rained throughout the 2012 concert.

National football team

The Italy national football team has played at the stadium, the first occasion being on 7 May 1933 in a 2–0 win over Czechoslovakia. The national team played only one game there between 1982 and 2006; a 2–0 friendly win against Mexico on 20 January 1993. On 1 March 2006, they played a friendly against Germany and won 4–1. The stadium hosted two matches in Euro 2012 qualifying: a 5–0 win over the Faroe Islands, and a 1–0 win over Slovenia on 6 September 2011 which was its most recent international hosting. During the match with Faroe Islands on 7 September 2010, Fabio Quagliarella (a member of Juventus at the time) scored a goal. Because Fiorentina fans have such a strong rivalry with Juventus, the fans at the stadium booed Quagliarella.

National rugby team

The stadium has also hosted international rugby union matches. Italy played Australia on 20 November 2010, losing by a score of 14–32. Italy beat South Africa at the stadium on 19 November 2016, defeating the Springboks for the first time in their history. The final score was 20–18.

1954 UFO sightings

On 27 October 1954, a reserve game between Fiorentina and nearby rivals Pistoiese was under way at the Stadio Artemio Franchi when a group of UFOs traveling at high speed abruptly stopped over the stadium. The stadium became silent as the crowd of around 10,000 spectators witnessed the event and described the UFOs as cigar shaped. The sighting went on for several minutes, before "silvery glitter" fell down and covered the entire stadium. The substance was also seen falling elsewhere the same day, whereafter "shiny balls" had been observed.

It was suggested that the most likely explanation was that the silk of mass migrating spiders had agglomerated high in the atmosphere. However, this suggestion was contradicted by the chemical analysis of the substance that was undertaken at the Institute of Chemical Analysis at University of Florence, which found it to contain boron, silicon, calcium and magnesium, which according to science writer Philip Ball, did not seem to match with the spider theory:

Magnesium and calcium are fairly common elements in living bodies, boron and silicon much less so - but if these were the main elements that the white fluff contained, it doesn't sound to me as though they'd come from spiders.

1934 FIFA World Cup

The stadium was one of the venues of the 1934 FIFA World Cup, and held the following matches:

Date	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round	Attendance	Referee
27 May 1934	{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Germany	flag alias = Flag of Germany.svg	flag alias-1866 = Flag of the German Empire.svg	link alias-1866 = German Empire	flag alias-empire = Flag of the German Empire.svg	link alias-empire = German Empire	flag alias-1919 = Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg	link alias-1919 = Weimar Republic	flag alias-Weimar = Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg	link alias-Weimar = Weimar Republic	flag alias-1933 = Flag of Germany (1933-1935).svg	flag alias-1935 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	link alias-1935 = Nazi Germany	flag alias-Nazi = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	link alias-Nazi = Nazi Germany	flag alias-1946 = Merchant flag of Germany (1946–1949).svg	border-1946 =	flag alias-1949 = Flag of Germany.svg	flag alias-EUA = German Olympic flag (1959-1968).svg	flag alias-gold = Flag of West Germany; Flag of Germany (1990–1996).svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Germany (state).svg	link alias-military = Bundeswehr	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Germany.svg	border-naval =	link alias-naval = German Navy	flag alias-coast guard=German Federal Coast Guard racing stripe.svg	border-coast guard=	link alias-coast guard=German Federal Coast Guard	flag alias-army = Colour of Germany.svg	flag alias-air force =Flag of Germany (state).svg	link alias-air force = German Air Force	link alias-army = German Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Germany.svg	link alias-navy = German Navy	border-navy =	border-army=	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = 1933 }}||style="text-align:center"|5–2||{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Belgium	flag alias = Flag of Belgium (civil).svg	flag alias-government = Government Ensign of Belgium.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Belgium.svg	flag alias-1830 = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg	flag alias-1858 = Royal ensign of Belgium (1858).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Belgian Land Component.svg	link alias-army = Belgian Land Component	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-naval = Belgian Navy	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-air force = Belgian Air Component	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-navy = Belgian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}||First Round||8,000||Francesco Mattea (Italy)
31 May 1934	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Italy	flag alias = Flag of Italy.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Italy (1861–1946).svg	flag alias-1943 = War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg	flag alias-2003 = Flag of Italy (2003–2006).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-navy-1947 = Naval Ensign of Italy (1947-2013).svg	link alias-naval = Italian Navy	link alias-air force = Italian Air Force	link alias-army = Italian Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	link alias-navy = Italian Navy	link alias-roller hockey = Italy {{{mw}}} national roller hockey team	size =	name =	variant = 1861	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }}||style="text-align:center"|1–1|| rowspan="2" |{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Spain	flag alias = Flag of Spain.svg	flag alias-1506 = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg	flag alias-1701 = Bandera de España 1701-1748.svg	flag alias-1748 = Bandera de España 1748-1785.svg	flag alias-1760 = Bandera de España 1760-1785.svg	flag alias-1785 = Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg	flag alias-1873 = Flag of the First Spanish Republic.svg	flag alias-1874 = Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg	flag alias-1931 = Flag of Spain (1931–1939).svg	flag alias-civil-1931 = Flag of the Second Spanish Republic (plain).svg	flag alias-1936 = Flag of the Bando Nacional (1936–1938).svg	flag alias-1938 = Flag of Spain (1938–1945).svg	flag alias-1945 = Flag of Spain (1945–1977).svg	flag alias-1977 = Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg	flag alias-civil = Flag of Spain (civil).svg	flag alias-civil-1785 = BandMercante1785.svg	flag alias-navy = Flag of Spain.svg	link alias-navy = Spanish Navy	flag alias-marines = Flag of Spain.svg	link alias-marines = Spanish Marine Infantry	flag alias-army = Flag of Spain.svg	link alias-army = Spanish Army	flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Spain.svg	link alias-naval = Spanish Navy	flag alias-air force = Flag of Spain.svg	link alias-air force = Spanish Air and Space Force	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = 1931 }}||Quarter Finals||35,000||Louis Baert (Belgium)
1 June 1934		1–0	Quarter Finals (Replay)	43,000	René Mercet (Switzerland)

1990 FIFA World Cup

The stadium was one of the venues of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and held the following matches:

Date	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round
10 June 1990	{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = United States	flag alias = Flag of the United States.svg	flag alias-1776 = Flag of the United States (1776–1777).svg	flag alias-1777 = Flag of the United States (1777–1795).svg	flag alias-1777-Ross = Betsy Ross flag.svg	flag alias-1795 = Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg	flag alias-1795FM = Flag of the United States (1795–1818).svg	flag alias-1818 = Flag of the United States (1818-1819).svg	flag alias-1819 = Flag of the United States (1819-1820).svg	flag alias-1820 = Flag of the United States (1820-1822).svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of the United States (1822–1836).svg	flag alias-1836 = Flag of the United States (1836-1837).svg	flag alias-1837 = Flag of the United States (1837-1845).svg	flag alias-1845 = Flag of the United States (1845-1846).svg	flag alias-1846 = Flag of the United States (1846-1847).svg	flag alias-1847 = Flag of the United States (1847-1848).svg	flag alias-1848 = Flag of the United States (1848-1851).svg	flag alias-1851 = Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg	flag alias-1858 = Flag of the United States (1858-1859).svg	flag alias-1859 = Flag of the United States (1859-1861).svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg	flag alias-1863 = Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg	flag alias-1865 = Flag of the United States (1865-1867).svg	flag alias-1867 = Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg	flag alias-1877 = Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg	flag alias-1890 = Flag of the United States (1890-1891).svg	flag alias-1891 = Flag of the United States (1891-1896).svg	flag alias-1896 = Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg	flag alias-1908 = Flag of the United States (1908-1912).svg	flag alias-1912 = Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of the United States (1959–1960).svg	flag alias-1960 = Flag of the United States (Web Colors).svg	flag alias-pantone = Flag of the United States (Pantone).svg	flag alias-yacht = United States yacht flag.svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the United States Air Force.svg	flag alias-coast guard-1799 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1799).png	flag alias-coast guard-1815 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1815).png	flag alias-coast guard-1836 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1836).png	flag alias-coast guard-1841 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1841).png	flag alias-coast guard-1867 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1867).png	flag alias-coast guard-1868 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1868).png	flag alias-coast guard-1915 = Ensign of the United States Coast Guard (1915-1953).png	flag alias-coast guard-1953 = Ensign of the United States Coast Guard.svg	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the United States Coast Guard.svg	link alias-coast guard = United States Coast Guard	flag alias-army = Flag of the United States Army.svg	link alias-naval = United States Navy	flag alias-navy-1864 = Flag of the United States Navy (1864-1959).svg	flag alias-navy = Flag of the United States Navy (official).svg	link alias-navy = United States Navy	link alias-marines = United States Marine Corps	flag alias-marines-1914 = Flag of the United States Marine Corps (1914-1939).png	flag alias-marines = Flag of the United States Marine Corps.svg	link alias-merchant marine = United States Merchant Marine	flag alias-merchant marine = Flag of the United States Merchant Marine Higher Resolution.jpg	flag alias-space force = Flag of the United States Space Force.svg	link alias-military = United States Armed Forces	link alias-football = United States men's national soccer team	link alias-Australian rules football = United States men's national Australian rules football team	flag alias-23px = Flag of the United States (23px).png	empty = USA Selects	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}||style="text-align:center"|1–5||{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Czechoslovakia	flag alias = Flag of the Czech Republic.svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Bohemia.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval_Ensign_of_Czechoslovakia_1935-1939_1945-1955.svg	link alias-naval = Czechoslovakian Naval Forces	link alias-army = Czechoslovak Army	flag alias-navy = Naval_Ensign_of_Czechoslovakia_1935-1939_1945-1955.svg	link alias-navy = Czechoslovakian Naval Forces	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }}||Group A
15 June 1990	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Austria	flag alias = Flag of Austria.svg	flag alias-empire = Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Austria (state).svg	flag alias-1230 = Flag of Austria (1230–1934).svg	flag alias-war = Austria-Hungary-flag-1869-1914-naval-1786-1869-merchant.svg	flag alias-1934 = State flag of Austria (1934–1938).svg	flag alias-1938 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of Austria (state).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-army = Austrian Land Forces	flag alias-naval = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-naval = Austrian Navy	link alias-air force = Austrian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-navy = Austrian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}||style="text-align:center"|0–1||{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Czechoslovakia	flag alias = Flag of the Czech Republic.svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Bohemia.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval_Ensign_of_Czechoslovakia_1935-1939_1945-1955.svg	link alias-naval = Czechoslovakian Naval Forces	link alias-army = Czechoslovak Army	flag alias-navy = Naval_Ensign_of_Czechoslovakia_1935-1939_1945-1955.svg	link alias-navy = Czechoslovakian Naval Forces	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }}||Group A
19 June 1990	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Austria	flag alias = Flag of Austria.svg	flag alias-empire = Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Austria (state).svg	flag alias-1230 = Flag of Austria (1230–1934).svg	flag alias-war = Austria-Hungary-flag-1869-1914-naval-1786-1869-merchant.svg	flag alias-1934 = State flag of Austria (1934–1938).svg	flag alias-1938 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of Austria (state).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-army = Austrian Land Forces	flag alias-naval = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-naval = Austrian Navy	link alias-air force = Austrian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-navy = Austrian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}||style="text-align:center"|2–1||{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = United States	flag alias = Flag of the United States.svg	flag alias-1776 = Flag of the United States (1776–1777).svg	flag alias-1777 = Flag of the United States (1777–1795).svg	flag alias-1777-Ross = Betsy Ross flag.svg	flag alias-1795 = Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg	flag alias-1795FM = Flag of the United States (1795–1818).svg	flag alias-1818 = Flag of the United States (1818-1819).svg	flag alias-1819 = Flag of the United States (1819-1820).svg	flag alias-1820 = Flag of the United States (1820-1822).svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of the United States (1822–1836).svg	flag alias-1836 = Flag of the United States (1836-1837).svg	flag alias-1837 = Flag of the United States (1837-1845).svg	flag alias-1845 = Flag of the United States (1845-1846).svg	flag alias-1846 = Flag of the United States (1846-1847).svg	flag alias-1847 = Flag of the United States (1847-1848).svg	flag alias-1848 = Flag of the United States (1848-1851).svg	flag alias-1851 = Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg	flag alias-1858 = Flag of the United States (1858-1859).svg	flag alias-1859 = Flag of the United States (1859-1861).svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg	flag alias-1863 = Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg	flag alias-1865 = Flag of the United States (1865-1867).svg	flag alias-1867 = Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg	flag alias-1877 = Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg	flag alias-1890 = Flag of the United States (1890-1891).svg	flag alias-1891 = Flag of the United States (1891-1896).svg	flag alias-1896 = Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg	flag alias-1908 = Flag of the United States (1908-1912).svg	flag alias-1912 = Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of the United States (1959–1960).svg	flag alias-1960 = Flag of the United States (Web Colors).svg	flag alias-pantone = Flag of the United States (Pantone).svg	flag alias-yacht = United States yacht flag.svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the United States Air Force.svg	flag alias-coast guard-1799 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1799).png	flag alias-coast guard-1815 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1815).png	flag alias-coast guard-1836 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1836).png	flag alias-coast guard-1841 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1841).png	flag alias-coast guard-1867 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1867).png	flag alias-coast guard-1868 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1868).png	flag alias-coast guard-1915 = Ensign of the United States Coast Guard (1915-1953).png	flag alias-coast guard-1953 = Ensign of the United States Coast Guard.svg	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the United States Coast Guard.svg	link alias-coast guard = United States Coast Guard	flag alias-army = Flag of the United States Army.svg	link alias-naval = United States Navy	flag alias-navy-1864 = Flag of the United States Navy (1864-1959).svg	flag alias-navy = Flag of the United States Navy (official).svg	link alias-navy = United States Navy	link alias-marines = United States Marine Corps	flag alias-marines-1914 = Flag of the United States Marine Corps (1914-1939).png	flag alias-marines = Flag of the United States Marine Corps.svg	link alias-merchant marine = United States Merchant Marine	flag alias-merchant marine = Flag of the United States Merchant Marine Higher Resolution.jpg	flag alias-space force = Flag of the United States Space Force.svg	link alias-military = United States Armed Forces	link alias-football = United States men's national soccer team	link alias-Australian rules football = United States men's national Australian rules football team	flag alias-23px = Flag of the United States (23px).png	empty = USA Selects	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}||Group A
30 June 1990	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Argentina	flag alias = Flag of Argentina.svg	flag alias-alt = Flag of Argentina (civil).svg	flag alias-1812 = Flag of Belgrano (1812).svg	flag alias-1816 = Flag of Argentina (civil).svg	flag alias-1818 = Flag of Argentina.svg	flag alias-1819 = Flag of Argentina (1818).svg	flag alias-1820 = Flag of Argentina.svg	flag alias-1829 = Flag of Liga Federal.svg	flag alias-1835 = Flag of Argentina (1840).svg	flag alias-1850 = Flag of the Argentine Confederation.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Argentina (1818–1819, 1820–1829, 1861–2010).svg	link alias-naval = Argentine Navy	link alias-coast guard = Argentine Naval Prefecture	flag alias-marines = Naval Jack of Argentina.svg	link alias-marines = Argentine Naval Infantry Command	link alias-air force = Argentine Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of Argentina (3-2).svg	link alias-army = Argentine Army	flag alias-navy = Flag of Argentina.svg	link alias-navy = Argentine Navy	empty = Argentina XV national rugby union team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}||style="text-align:center"|0–0 (3–2 on penalties)||{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia	shortname alias = Yugoslavia	flag alias = Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg	flag alias-shs = Flag of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs.svg	flag alias-army = Yugoslavia Infantry flag.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Yugoslavia (1949–1993).svg	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Yugoslavia (1949–1993).svg	link alias-military = Yugoslav People's Army	link alias-army = Yugoslav Ground Forces	link alias-naval = Yugoslav Navy	link alias-air force = Yugoslav Air Force	link alias-navy = Yugoslav Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}||Quarter-finals