Verona Mayor Flavio Tosi told
Culture Minister Dario Franceschini on Monday that his city's
Arena amphitheater needs to be covered over after the opera
foundation lost millions due to bad weather last season.
Opera lovers around the world are familiar with the Verona
Arena, built by the Romans in 30 AD and used as a musical
theater from the Renaissance onward because of its outstanding
acoustics.
"We lost 2.5 million euros in ticket sales due to bad
weather last year," the mayor said, adding that local government
can no longer foot the bill for the opera foundation.
"Our hope is that large private investors...will give a
hand to the Arena, which is a significant part of the city's
economy," the mayor said.
"I think we can involve the private sector on the Arena,"
Franceschini said after meeting with Tosi.
"I expect a number of significant Italian private-sector
players to realize what sponsoring the Arena could do for their
image".
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