Ascoli Stadium Guide: Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca

Serie B football is back at the Stadio Del Duca.

Built in 1962, the ground was inaugurated by a friendly between the semi-pro national teams of Italy and England and is named after the Del Duca brothers, Cino and Lillo.

Both were involved with the club and Cino, a newspaper editor and movie producer, served as president in the 1950s and 1960s. The stadium was renamed after his death in 1967.’

Initially designed to accommodate just north of 15,000 spectators, the Del Duca was expanded to 40,000 after Ascoli won a maiden promotion to Serie A in 1974 under the presidency of the legendary Costantino Rozzi.

But capacity has decreased over the years, as Ascoli struggled to bring the ground in line with safety requirements and in 2015 the Tribuna Est had to be demolished due to structural risks, with the Curva Sud following five years later.

Ascoli have since embarked on an ambitious overhaul project, with the new 4000-capacity Curva Sud to be completed in time for the 2026-27 season.

Here is everything you need to know.

What Makes It Special?

Its history. The Del Duca may have only been inaugurated in 1962, but following Ascoli’s promotion to the big time in 1974, it hosted top-flight football for all but three seasons over the next 18 years.

Under the presidency of Rozzi, Ascoli routinely punched above their weight and even won the Mitropa Cup in 1987, while the likes of Brazil international Walter Casagrande became a cult hero at the Del Duca.

Aptly, as part of the renovation of the Curva Sud, the club are planning to have a museum in the ground to pay homage to their rich history.

How To Get There

The Del Duca is a 15-minute walk from the main train station and a 30-minute walk from Piazza Del Popolo in the old town. Buses stop along Viale Constantino Rozzi and Viale Delle Zeppele on either side of the ground on matchdays. Both stops are five minutes from the ground. Tickets are available on board.

The Del Duca is a five-minute cab ride from both the main train station and Piazza del Popolo and the closest car park is 111 Parking just off Viale delle Zeppelle, directly across the road from the Tribuna Est.

Neighbourhood Tips

Straight across from the Tribuna Ovest, Bar Stadio and Bar dello Sport are ideal for a pre-match beer or coffee and a meeting point for many fans after the final whistle.

Both are exactly the kind of no-frills places that are common across the calcio landscape. Expect fridges stocked with bottles of Moretti and Peroni and people spilling outside drinking on the pavement.

The same applies to Tabaccheria e Bar dello Stadio on the other side of the ground, while the bakery Forno Fazzini on Via Po is a good place to stop if you fancy a slice of pizza or a sandwich. It’s a 10-minute walk from the ground, but it shuts at 5pm.

Need To Know

The liveliest section of the stadium is the Curva Sud – the home of the ultras. Ascoli’s hardcore fans temporarily relocated to the Curva Nord in 2020 as the ground underwent a facelift, but are due back in the Curva Sud come the beginning of the season.

Tickets

The ticket collection booths are located by the Tribuna Mazzone.