Stadio Ezio Scida

The history of Stadio Ezio Scida is inseparable from the tragic story of the young man who gave it his name, and from FC Crotone's long journey through the Italian football pyramid.

Foundation and the naming

The stadium was completed in 1946, at a moment when sporting life in Italy was recovering from the Second World War. It was dedicated to Ezio Scida, a young FC Crotone supporter who died tragically in 1946. This act of commemoration embedded the stadium with a communal significance beyond sport from its very first day: Ezio Scida's name has ever since carried the weight of local memory and the loyalty of a city to one of its own.

Development and renovation

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century the ground was progressively developed to meet the requirements of higher-division football as FC Crotone climbed through the Italian leagues. Capacity was stabilised at 16,547 seats, placing Ezio Scida among the smaller but fully operational stadiums of the Italian second tier. The ground has been maintained to meet Serie A standards during the club's top-flight seasons.

Notable moments

The stadium's greatest chapter was written during FC Crotone's appearances in Serie A -- notably in 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2020/21 -- when the club competed at the highest level of Italian football. Home fixtures against Juventus, Napoli and Lazio brought top-flight Italian football to Ezio Scida and produced the most celebrated moments in the ground's history.

The atmosphere at Ezio Scida reflects the intensity of Calabrian football culture and the devotion of a small-city fan base where every home match is a communal event for the whole of Crotone.

Fan culture

FC Crotone's supporters are known as I Pitagorici -- the Pythagoreans -- a nickname drawing on the ancient Greek heritage of the city, site of Pythagoras's famous philosophical school. The fan base is characterised by fierce local loyalty and vocal support that belies the modest capacity of the ground. With just over 16,500 seats, Ezio Scida is compact enough that every section feels close to the pitch, and the energy of the active supporter groups behind the goals permeates the whole arena.

Big matches

Ezio Scida's most atmospheric occasions have come with FC Crotone's Serie A seasons. Home fixtures in 2016/17 and 2017/18 against the largest Italian clubs produced the most intense crowds in the stadium's history. Matches against Napoli, Juventus and Inter Milan were historic occasions for a city that rarely sees football at this level -- the memory of those evenings remains vivid in Crotone's collective football consciousness.

Visiting Ezio Scida offers an authentic southern Italian football experience in a city with extraordinary ancient history, far from mass-tourism routes.

How to get there

• Train: Crotone railway station is approximately 15-20 minutes' walk from the stadium; rail connections run from Catanzaro Lido (around 1 hour) and along the Ionian coastal line
• Plane: The nearest airport is Lamezia Terme (SUF), roughly 70 km from Crotone; onward travel is by train or car
• Car: Crotone is accessible via the SS106 state road along the Ionian coast; parking near the stadium is available on matchdays
• Local bus: The city bus network connects central Crotone to the stadium

Tickets and tours

Match tickets for FC Crotone are sold through the official club website and local outlets. Sold-out fixtures are uncommon outside promotion playoffs and potential Serie A returns. Stadium tours for visitors on non-matchdays can be arranged through the club.

Visitor tips

• Ancient history: Crotone occupies the site of the Greek colony Kroton -- the National Archaeological Museum of Calabria in Reggio Calabria and the nearby Capo Colonna archaeological site with its Temple of Hera are worth visiting
• Calabrian cuisine: Local specialities include 'nduja (spreadable spiced pork salami), pitta 'mpigliata (traditional honey and nut pastry) and fresh Ionian seafood
• Weather: Crotone has a hot-dry Mediterranean climate; summer fixtures can be very warm, while the winter season is mild by northern European standards
• When to arrive: At least 45 minutes before kick-off for key fixtures to allow time for entry