Stadio Moretti

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = Stadio Moretti

| nickname = Il Moretti

| image = Stadio Moretti 1950s 1.png

| fullname = Stadio Moretti

| location = Udine, Italy

| coordinates =

| broke_ground =

| built =

| opened = 1920

| renovated =

| expanded =

| closed = 1976

| demolished = 1998

| owner = Municipality of Udine

| operator = Udinese Calcio

| surface = Grass

| construction_cost =

| architect =

| structural engineer =

| services engineer =

| general_contractor=

| project_manager =

| main_contractors =

| former_names =

| tenants = Udinese Calcio (1924–1976)

| seating_capacity = 25,000

| dimensions =

}}

Stadio Moretti was a multi-use stadium in Udine, Italy. It was initially used as the stadium of Udinese Calcio matches. It was replaced by Stadio Friuli in 1976. The capacity of the stadium was 25,000 spectators. It also hosted motorcycle speedway events.{{cite web |url=https://www.stadiumguide.com/moretti/ |title=Stadio Moretti | website=The Stadium Guide |access-date=31 January 2024}}

History

=Football=

Udinese Calcio's first pitch was located at the back of the "Dante Alighieri" elementary school and was used for football until 1914. The second pitch, located outside Porta Venezia, was inaugurated on 11 October 1914, hosting the Udinese- Venice match, but it did not last long also due to the start of World War I. Upon resuming sporting activity, Udinese built the new pitch in Viale Venezia (located between Via Moretti and Via Mentana) and inaugurated it on 31 August 1919 in a match which saw them lose 1-2 against Padova.{{cite book |last=Fontanelli |first=Carlo |title=Almanacco Udinese Calcio. Dal 1896 i Primi Bianconeri d'Italia. |year=2019 |publisher=Geo Edizioni |isbn=978-8869991042}}

The next stage takes its name from the well-known beer producing brand which had its factory in the immediate vicinity and was the owner of the plant. The structure was used by the local football team, Udinese, within which it achieved the most important result in its history; in 1954-1955, they managed to finish second in the standings behind AC Milan, coming close to winning the scudetto.

The facility was surrounded by an oval dirt track, where speedway motorbikes raced; this made Moretti a special stadium. With the construction of the Friuli Stadium, the structure became dilapidated and for a short period it was the sports center of Udinese, which played the Primavera team's matches there.

The stadium had no electric lighting, therefore, on the occasion of the evening matches of the Coppa Italia during the 1970s, Udinese had to move to the Cosulich Stadium in Monfalcone or the Omero Tognon Stadium in Fontanafredda. Only the covered grandstand remained until 1998, when the structure was demolished.

=Speedway=

The stadium was a significant venue for motorcycle speedway and hosted important events. These included qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Championship in 1971 and 1972.{{cite web |url=https://dlprezes.pl.tl/SPEEDWAY--_--Indywidualne-mistrzostwa-%26%23346%3Bwiata-----------k1-World-Speedway-Championship-k2-.htm |title=World Championship |website=Metal Speedway |access-date=31 January 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.org/history/ |title=World Championship | website=Speedway.org |access-date=31 January 2024}}

References

Category:Defunct football venues in Italy

Moretti

Category:Defunct speedway venues in Italy

Category:Defunct sports venues in Italy

Category:Sports venues in Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Moretti

Category:Sports venues completed in 1920

Category:Sports venues demolished in 1998

Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Italy

Category:1920 establishments in Italy

Category:1998 disestablishments in Italy

Category:Speedway venues in Italy