Velodromo Vigorelli (from 2001 officially Velodromo Maspes-Vigorelli) is a 397-metre (434 yd; 1,302 ft) semi-covered velodrome in Milan, Italy. It is currently used mostly for American football events; surrounded by the track, there is a standard size football field in synthetic turf. In 2013 it was the home of the IFAF European Football Championship. It is currently the home stadium for the football teams Seamen Milano and Rhinos Milano.
The stadium holds 9,000 people and was built in 1935 by Vigorelli Cycles. It was burned down during the Second World War after bombing of Milan by the RAF[1] but then rebuilt.
The stadium was home to the hour record from 1935 to 1967 and the one-hour tandem record of Ernest Mills and Bill Paul from 1937 to 2000. It hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 1939, 1951, 1955 and 1962. After years of neglect and planned demolitions, campaigning by local enthusiasts led to the approval by local authorities in March 2014 of plans to renovate the velodrome.[2]
The stadium has also hosted music events, including the Beatles' concert on June 24, 1965.[3] It was the site of a concert by English rock band Led Zeppelin which took place during the band's 1971 European tour, well known for its descent into a violent riot between concert attendees and the local police.[4][5][6]
- ^ The Bicycle, 6 November 1946, p13
- ^ Williams, Richard (21 March 2014). "Historic Vigorelli velodrome rescued by volunteers who fought off inertia". theguardian.com. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- ^ "Corriere della Sera - Beatles a Milano: Un concerto nella leggenda".
- ^ "Led Zeppelin Interview 1971". Archived from the original on 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- ^ Led Zeppelin official website: concert summary
- ^ Chris Welch (1994) Led Zeppelin, London: Orion Books. ISBN 1-85797-930-3, p. 63.