The stadium replaced the old Stadio Carlo Pranzo, which was named after a young soldier from Lecce killed in the First World War.However the funding for a venue allocated to the region of Apulia went to the Stadio San Nicola in Bari, which caused some controversy.[6] During the first day of the Serie B 2007–08 championship, the press room of the stadium was named after the local journalist Sergio Vantaggiato, who died in tragic circumstances in August 2007.On 1 November 2007, during a regular training session, lightning struck the ground and killed Antonio De Giorgi, a U.S. Lecce equipment manager.From 14 to 17 July 2011 the stadium hosted the Italia Wave festival with Lou Reed, Kaiser Chiefs, Paolo Nutini and many other artists.
The Stadio Via del mare during a Serie A match between Lecce and SPAL in February 2020.