By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Virtus Segafredo Bologna’s president Massimo Zanetti will present the plans for a new arena for the Italian team at the press conference scheduled for Thursday.
The press conference will be held in the Anziani room of Palazzo d’Accursio to present the new Segafredo Arena in Bologna and will be attended by Mayor Matteo Lepore, BolognaFiere president Gianpiero Calzolari, and architect Michele Roveri from the MCA Mario Cucinella Architects studio.
Virtus returned to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season for the first time since 2007-08 and now aims for a long-term license, with the new arena being part of the plan.
“Obtaining the license is one of our objectives, but we also know it does not depend only on us. We are doing everything in our power, and in the coming weeks, we will try to turn the contacts we have had in recent months into a dialogue. Even concerning the new arena, an important variable in this situation, we are moving forward with the Fiera. I hope to have positive news soon,” Luca Baraldi, CEO of Virtus Segafredo Bologna, said to Il Carlino.
The experienced playmaker of Virtus, Daniel Hackett, believes the club has done enough to prove its worth to the competition.
“The players have been put in a position to give their best and our basketball appealing. It allowed bringing a lot of people to the arena. I believe we deserve a wild card. The team has fought hard and done well, and while I won’t talk about the politics, I don’t see why our journey shouldn’t continue,” Hackett said to Corriere dello Sport.
After 29 rounds, Virtus Bologna sits in 13th place in the EuroLeague standings with a 13-16 score and a slim chance of making it to the playoffs. On Friday, they will welcome Real Madrid in Round 30 of the elite European competition.