Parma Sports & Outdoors

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FC Parma is one of the newest club in Serie A, if I may say so about a club that took the step up in the first division in 1990/91. Backed up by the then so mighty Parmalat as sponsor they too Europe with storm, and won the Uefacup twice and the Cupwinner cup once during the 1990-ties. With players like Hernan Crespo, Tomas Brolin and Faustino Asprilla the had a fantastic team, and at the end of the 1990-ties even were really close to winning the Scudetto, the italian league, a couple of times.

But of course, Luciano Moggi was alive and kicking already back then, so Juventus won them instead...

I've been at two games in Parma. The first one back in 03/04, when I paid 73 euro for a bad seat at Parma-Milan, frooze my ass off during the whole game, which ended 0-0, and then had to wait 1,5 hour for the bus to the station to arrive at the stadium after the game.

Funny story, but not very fun back then.

Second time was this autumn, 2006, when I was Parma-Inter. Which was a totally different experience. Paid just 35 euro for quite good seats at "Distinti laterale" which was on the side of the stand, but still on the long side.

Atmosphere was really good, and as soon as we moved away from the group of crazy Inter-supporters who couldn't sit still for even one second, we could also see the game...

Parma-supporters stand in the Curva Nord, which have no seats, and you can stand wherever you want. Prices are cheap, and you don't have to stand in the middle either. If you go onto one of the flancs you should probably even be able to sit down, and see the game quite good.

Away supporters are in Curva Sud, "settore ospiti", and tickets to that sector you can't buy on the day of the game.

For a good ticket, which isn't too expensive, I would advice the "distinti laterale". 35 euro is a good price for a ticket in Italy, with a seat as good as we got.

Equipment: The name of the stadium is "Ennio Tardini", who was a famous union man in Parma in the beginning of the 1900-ties. More important he also fought a lot for different sporting activities in the city, and was one of the persons who mostly wanted a stadium in the city. Unfortunately he died in 1923, just a few months before the stadium with his name was completed.

Parma plays in the swedish colours at home most of the time, which is blue and yellow. If you want to look as a supporter you should therefor get a blue yellow scarf, or buy one outside the stadium on matchdays.
No problem to go there neutral though, even if the atmosphere at the game was great it's not as "hot" as in Rome, Napoli or Milan.

Parma supporters aren't known to be violent, but if you cheer too much for the away team, in the wrong side of the stadium, you might get into trouble. So, if you support the away team but sit in the home section, try to not look like you're celebrating when your team eventually scores. :)

New rules since last season in Italy makes it a bitter problem to get tickets for the game. As every ticket holder need to have his/her name on the ticket you'll need to bring your passport, or id-card to the stadium, where they will print your numbers into the computer before you get your ticket.
This means that it takes forever to get a ticket, so don't get to the stadium in the last minute! Then you will most probably miss the beginning of the game!

Even better would be if you could buy the ticket in advance via www.bestticket.it. Not always working too good though, which was why I had to stand in the line for 45 minutes before I could get two tickets...

And, as always in Italy, it's not really a line. You will have to fight for your position... ;)