Reports suggest the city has opened the project to expressions of interest, with the current site still appearing to be the preferred option.
That last point matters. Across Italy, stadium debates often stall when clubs and cities treat arenas as matchday-only spaces. The sharper projects are the ones that aim to work all year, with concerts, events and surrounding redevelopment helping justify the cost and political effort.
The Bentegodi carries history. It was part of the 1990 World Cup, a landmark tournament that left several Italian venues with iconic status but, over time, obvious limitations.
Modern tournament hosting is less forgiving now. Organisers want smoother logistics, stronger commercial infrastructure and more flexible buildings. A retractable pitch, if it becomes part of the final plan, would fit that wider trend: a football ground built to serve a city, not just a fixture list.
For Tommasi, a former player with deep roots in the city, this appears to be a test of vision as much as administration. The report says the project is also tied to wider regeneration, including greener public areas and changes around the surrounding roads.
That makes the next step the most important one: who comes forward, what the final brief looks like, and whether Verona can turn ambition into a stadium plan that is modern enough for 2032 without losing the identity that made the Bentegodi matter in the first place.