The project at a glance
A project soon to become reality
The Sports and Events Centre (Polo sportivo e degli eventi, PSE) is a major initiative that will enhance and support Lugano’s sports offerings while improving the quality of life in the Cornaredo neighborhood through the creation of large green areas and public spaces designed for community activities and the organization of events, including international ones. The construction of Phase 1 (sports-related facilities) will be completed by December 2026. To keep the City Parliament and the public informed, the Municipal Government has decided to publish a semi-annual report on the progress of the work, starting in November 2024. The document is available below in the Latest News section.
Among the sports-related facilities, the new Sports Arena stands out, as its construction is essential to host first-division football matches. The current stadium does not meet the Swiss Football League (SFL) and UEFA standards for Super League teams. The SFL granted the City an exemption until 2021 and subsequently approved a modification to the licensing regulations, allowing for an annual extension of the special authorization, provided the project's progress adheres to the established conditions.
The City has initiated the development of a modern and comprehensive infrastructure within the deadlines set by the SFL, including spaces for sports clubs, security, guest hospitality, and media. The Sports Arena will feature approximately 8,250 covered seating places. The new stadium will be named AIL Arena. Access will be controlled, with separate entrances for players and referees.
The Sports Hall will host national and international competitions as well as activities of the city's sports clubs. It will include a sports event hall for 3,000 spectators, convertible into a triple gym, a multifunctional hall (double gym), and gyms dedicated to specific disciplines. Functional spaces will also be provided for all needs related to sports activities. Besides basketball and volleyball, the hall will be able to host badminton, boxing, martial arts, table tennis, fencing events, and more. The facility, to be named PalaRaiffeisen, will also be equipped to host non-sporting events, such as indoor concerts, with a capacity of 4,000 spectators.
South of Via Stadio, a new grass field will be set up with an athletics track and the necessary supporting facilities (stands, changing rooms, storage areas, meeting rooms, and refreshment stands). This option offers several advantages, including hosting all disciplines in Cornaredo, synergies between various activities through the shared use of the track, and the consolidation of urban and landscape redevelopment in the southern part of the PSE area, affected by the widening of cantonal roads.
©Cruz y Ortiz – Giraudi Radczuweit architetti
©Cruz y Ortiz – Giraudi Radczuweit architetti
The Municipal Government has approved the concept of a unified administrative center for city services as part of the Progetto Nuova Amministrazione (New Administration Project - PNA). The logistics of the municipal administrative spaces currently reveal deficiencies, as the standards do not meet today’s needs and cannot support the optimization, quality, and performance goals of the public entity. The city buildings were all originally constructed for other purposes and later converted for public use. The current situation also requires short- to medium-term interventions with high investment and extraordinary maintenance costs. Citizens will thus find all administrative offices and service counters of the Administration in a single, easily accessible building.
The PSE will provide an opportunity for a significant urban redevelopment of the future northern gateway to the city, enhanced by the addition of green areas and public spaces. The outdoor public space is designed as an extension of the Trevano hill and will appear as a vast open area, serving as both a landscape focal point and a meeting place for the community. Specifically, plans include the creation of a park of approximately 12,000 square meters.
©Cruz y Ortiz – Giraudi Radczuweit architetti
Latest News
Explore the Future Spaces
The City, in collaboration with its technology partner, has developed an interactive 3D model of the Sports and Events Centre (PSE). This innovative tool allows users to explore future spaces and track the progress of the work in real time. The model will be updated regularly, adding new details and becoming increasingly realistic and aligned with the final project. Dive into the experience and discover how the new PSE in Lugano will take shape.
Specifically, users can navigate freely within the PSE starting from a selection of six viewpoints (Panoramica sud, Tunnel spogliatoi, Campo da calcio, Passaggio pubblico, Foyer palazzetto, Campo principale), accessible via the first button in the sidebar.
Work Progress and Construction Site Videos
To follow the step-by-step progress of the construction site, we present a new drone footage every two weeks.
Construction Site of the Sports and Events Centre - 17.12.2024
The Project Phases
2012-2022
Design
October 2012
Origin of the idea for the new Sports and Events Centre project. The City of Lugano launches an international public architectural competition.
April 2013
The "Sigillo" project by the interdisciplinary group Cruz Ortiz + Giraudi Radczuweit wins the international architectural competition.
March 2015
The Municipal Government submits the planning application for the Neighborhood Plan (PQ) for the PSE on March 9.
June 2016
The Department of Territory approves the Guidelines Plan for the PR-NQC.
May 2017
The Canton issues a favorable pre-approval for the planning application for the Neighborhood Plan (PQ) for the PSE.
October 2017
The Municipal Government submits the credit request for the preliminary project of the PSE and initiates the process to identify a private partner through a competition.
December 2017
The Municipal Government updates the sports contents following changes to the cantonal road project and approves the feasibility study by Cruz Ortiz + Giraudi Radczuweit, which includes the relocation of the athletics track to the area south of the stadium. The study also includes the addition of three supplementary football fields, in addition to the existing one in the Al Maglio area.
The City Parliament approves the design credit for the preliminary project and the credits necessary to finance the procedural costs of the investor competition and a project competition for the development of the Sports Centre Al Maglio.
October 2018
The Municipal Government publishes the competition documents for investors.
June 2020
The City Parliament approves the final project design and the authorization procedure (dispatch no. 10472).
The Municipal Government issues the building permit for the Neighborhood Plan (PQ).
July 2020
The City of Lugano announces the result of the investor competition: the partner for the PSE project will be HRS Real Estate SA.
December 2020
Submission of three planning applications concerning the variant of the Neighborhood Plan, the Sports Arena, the Sports Hall, and the Phase 2 contents (service block, two towers, external layout, northern parking garage).
March 2021
The City Parliament approves, through dispatch no. 10774, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) general agreement and the private partner HRS.
The Federal Council announces its support for the PSE project with a contribution of up to 5 million francs as part of the NASAK 5 program for sports facilities benefiting both grassroots and elite sports.
May 2021
The Movimento per il Socialismo submits a referendum request on the Sports and Events Centre and collects 4,331 signatures.
November 2021
57% of the population votes against the referendum and in favor of the PSE project.
April 2022
Submission to the Cantonal Parliament of a government dispatch regarding an extraordinary lump-sum contribution of 11 million francs and the approval of a lump-sum contribution of 6 million francs via the Sport-toto Fund in favor of the Municipality of Lugano for the realization of the PSE.
May 2022
The Municipal Government issues four building permits related to the PSE project.
2023-2026
Phase 1
January 2023
Start of preparatory work for the Sports Arena construction site.
March 2023
The Cantonal Parliament decrees the granting of an extraordinary lump-sum contribution of 11 million francs and the approval of a lump-sum contribution of 6 million francs via the Sport-toto Fund in favor of the Municipality of Lugano for the realization of the PSE.
July 2023
Start of the demolition of the Monte Brè Grandstand and inauguration of the temporary stadium.
September 2023
Start of construction work for the Sports Arena.
September 2024
Laying of the foundation stone for the Sports Hall.
November 2024
Publication of the first semi-annual report on the progress of the construction site.
December 2025
Completion of the Sports Arena.
December 2026
Completion of the Sports Hall and the end of Phase 1 (sports-related facilities).
2027-2029
Phase 2 and Phase 3
December 2027
Completion of the City Police building.
February 2028
Completion of the Municipal Administration tower.
December 2028
End of Phase 2, public facilities (west tower, south building, park, and public spaces).
May 2029
End of Phase 3, private facilities (commercial, administrative, and residential areas).
More information about the project
Visit the page with frequently asked questions about the PSE project.
Documentation and insights
The collection of public documentation available about the PSE.
Rendering
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Related projects
The English version of this page was created with the aid of automatic translation tools and may contain errors and omissions.
The original version is the page in Italian.