Live Nation Acquires Italy’s Unipol Arena

Live Nation has signed an agreement to acquire ForumNet Group, one of Italy’s leading venue operators, from Bastogi S.p.A., for an undisclosed sum.

ForumNet Group’s venue portfolio includes Unipol Forum (capacity up to 15,800), Teatro Repower (capacity up to 1,700), and Carroponte (an open-air venue with a capacity up to 12,000), all located in Milan.

According to a press release from Live Nation, “Unipol Forum is at the heart of the acquisition: a renowned live music and sports arena that has welcomed two million fans annually since opening in 1990 and hosted global superstars and Italian icons, including Vasco, Cremonini, Tiziano Ferro and Marco Mengoni, alike. Beyond music, Unipol Forum is home to the Armani Olimpia Milano basketball team and will stage figure and short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics.”

Lady Gaga sold out Unipol Forum twice in October, moving 23,755 tickets, grossing $4,265,413, according to the box office reports submitted to Pollstar for the Oct. 19-20, 2025 shows.

Italian artists also sell out the building on a regular basis. Two recent examples from the Pollstar Boxoffice include singer-songwriter Damiano David, Oct. 7, 2025 (12,465 tickets, $781,317 gross); or rapper Shiva, who sold out Unipol Forum twice, June 30-July 1, 2025 (24,659 tickets, $1,574,630 gross).

Live Nation says it plans “significant investment in Unipol Forum to enhance the fan experience, upgrade artist and production facilities, and introduce sustainability improvements to reduce carbon emissions. These upgrades will build on the venue’s Olympic legacy and ensure it remains a long-term home for world-class entertainment and elite sports.”

The deal also includes Teatro Repower and the management of open-air venue Carroponte.

It does not include Palazzo dello Sport in the Italian capital of Rome, which used to also be operated by ForumNet Group. Pollstar has asked for clarification on the operations of the Rome building.

The Milan-based venues part of this deal are part of Italy’s live entertainment sector which generated €4.5 billion ($5.3 billion) nationally in 2024.

The team at ForumNet team will continue to operate the venues, and Live Nation has emphasized that it welcomes “all event organizers,” while “Live Nation will continue to promote shows across all Italian venues.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to complete in April 2026.

Comments:

Roberto de Luca, President, Live Nation Italy, “We’re proud to welcome these historic Milan venues to Live Nation and invest in their future. The Forum has hosted some of the greatest Italian and international artists and we look forward to creating even more opportunities for artists and fans. The ForumNet venues will continue under an independent management team, maintaining longstanding relationships with all partners and promoters.”

Marco Cabassi, President, Bastogi Group, “These venues have been at the heart of Milan’s cultural life for decades. Partnering with Live Nation ensures they will continue to thrive, welcoming fans and artists from both Italy and around the world for years to come.”

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