Showcase Mapei Stadium 2026
The event will take place on Tuesday 12 May at Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
About the SGL Showcase
With successful editions earlier this year at Hampden Park, and last year at Olympique de Marseille’s Orange Vélodrome, VfB Stuttgart’s MHP Arena, FC Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium, Malmö FF’s Eleda Stadion, and Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, it is now time for the SGL Showcase to be hosted at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia.
During this unique event, we’ll showcase ways of high-level pitch management with a focus on LED grow lighting. Highly regarded (guest) speakers will share their knowledge and experience through practical examples. During the pitch visit and live demos, you will see the latest technology in action. And of course, there will be plenty of time to network with fellow industry professionals.
Mapei Stadium
Mapei Stadium is one of Italy’s most distinctive modern football venues and the home of U.S. Sassuolo Calcio. Located in Reggio Emilia, the stadium was originally built for the 1995 European Athletics Championships and later transformed into a football-specific stadium following its acquisition and redevelopment by Mapei. With a capacity of just over 21,000, it is recognised for its close proximity between pitch and stands, clear sightlines, and a playing surface designed to support consistent performance throughout the season. Its compact layout, ongoing upgrades, and focus on pitch conditions and fan comfort make it a clear reference point for contemporary stadium operations in Italian football.
Programme
Welcome dinner
We’ll kick off the event with a welcome dinner the night before.
Event day
We’ll soon publish the programme of the event.
Speakers
Eva Sánchez-Céspedes, Grounds Manager at Real Sporting de Gijón
Eva Sánchez-Céspedes is the Grounds Manager at Real Sporting de Gijón, where she is responsible for the maintenance and development of the playing surfaces at Estadio El Molinón as well as the club’s Mareo training facilities.
Trained as an Agricultural Engineer at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and specialised in turfgrass management through further international education, Eva has built an international career in sports turf management.
Before joining Sporting Gijón, she gained valuable experience working at the training facilities of Real Madrid CF, managing sports fields and landscaping at Valdebebas. Earlier in her career she also worked in the golf and turf production sectors, developing a broad technical background in natural and hybrid sports surfaces.
During the Showcase at Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore, Eva will share her perspective on managing stadium and training ground pitches, and the challenges of maintaining high-quality playing surfaces in a demanding professional football environment.
Andrea Lorenzi, Maintenance Manager Mapei Stadium
Andrea Lorenzi is the Maintenance Manager at Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia, where he leads pitch care and turf operations for one of Italy’s most innovative football venues. Under his guidance, the stadium has transitioned to a 100 % natural playing surface using the NorthBridge grass variety, a first in Italian professional football and the same type selected for several pitches at the 2026 World Cup. This strategic agronomic choice reflects Andrea’s commitment to high‑performance turf that meets rigorous playability demands while supporting environmental objectives.
Andrea’s work forms part of a broader innovation path at Mapei Stadium, incorporating advanced technologies and sustainability‑focused practices that enhance turf quality, durability and maintenance efficiency. His presentation at the SGL Showcase Mapei Stadium will offer attendees insights into the practical, operational and strategic decisions behind delivering a world‑class natural playing surface.
Xavi Tordera, Area Manager Southern Europe & Latin America SGL
Former Head of Pitch Maintenance at FC Barcelona (for 16 years), Area Manager for South America and Southern Europe at SGL System since 2013, and FIFA Consultant since 2012, Xavi has over 25 years of hands-on experience in sports field management.
He provides consulting and training services, as well as seminars for football clubs and federations worldwide. His work covers the key areas of natural and artificial turf construction, development, and maintenance, including inspections and recommendations to improve playing surface quality.
As a member of FIFA’s Natural Grass Field Advisory Group, Xavi contributed to the development of the Natural Grass Maintenance Guidelines and the Groundsmen’s Guide.
In 2012, he served as Co-Chair of the European Stadium and Safety Management Association (ESSMA) and chaired the Groundsmen Expert Group for the advancement of pitch management in Europe.
Registration form
Who from SGL are present?
Terms and Conditions
- Commercial parties are not allowed to participate in this event.
- SGL reserves the right, at any time, to decline event registrations or close registrations early if it deems the number of registrations to be excessive.
- A maximum of 2 people per club/venue/company is allowed to participate.
- If the maximum number of registrants is reached, SGL reserves the right to place individuals on a waiting list until new availability arises.
- Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Participation in the programme is free of charge.
- SGL offers a hotel option, but you are responsible for booking and payment of the hotel. The booking link will be shared with you later by email.
- Transport to and from the event has to be arranged by yourself and are at your own expense.
- Personal information provided during registration will be used solely for event coordination purposes and will not be shared with third parties without prior consent.
- By attending the event, participants consent to the use of their image and likeness in event-related photos and videos for promotional purposes in the futute.
Cancellation
- If you are already registered, but can no longer participate, please inform us by sending an email to: marketing@sglsystem.com
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