For the first time in Palermo FC’s history, on the occasion of Palermo FC VS Cosenza Calcio, the first home match of the 24/25 season, the Renzo Barbera stadium was the theatre for a latest-generation light show, which has already entered the stadium’s history, immortalised by thousands of cameras: two emotional moments that involved the 26,000 people in the stands before the match, an absolute novelty that recalls similar experiences in the most important stadiums in Europe and the world.
The squad’s entrance for the warm-up phase was preceded by a countdown with an emotional climax and a spectacular play of lights in time to the music to welcome the Rosanero players on the Barbera pitch with great energy. This was followed by a medley of songs with special lights projected on the pitch and the now unmissable final on Sergio Endrigo’s ‘Io che amo solo te’, sung by the whole stadium in a dreamy atmosphere, over a sinuous ‘ballet’ of lights in the centre of the pitch.
The light show was designed and produced by Palermo-based Odd Agency, one of the most innovative companies in the field of cultural heritage and digital humanities, which has already produced some of its most iconic immersive experiences in Italy and abroad, curated museum exhibitions, and managed and participated in cultural entertainment projects. With the technical direction entrusted to Piero Segesta in partnership with Sinergie Group, the show thus inaugurated the new LED lighting system installed on the original lighting towers, to which were added 50 moving heads on the pitch’s edge, four smoke machines, an enhanced audio system, the new LED walls on the pitch’s edge and on the balustrade of the bleachers, as well as the maxi screens in the corners.
The new state-of-the-art LED system, which reduces the energy impact by 50 per cent, was designed by Musco Lighting, a leading American company and partner of City Football Group, which also worked on the futuristic lighting system of theEtihad Stadium. The 216 new floodlights, located on the four light towers and the canopy, use a downward light reflection system that avoids light dispersion. The lighting system complies with UEFA Level A requirements and guarantees the possibility of hosting international competitions up to the semi-finals.