Southwest of the city of Tortona (AL), in the San Guglielmo area, stands the Cittadella dello Sport project, financed by the Gavio family, which includes the Nova Arena, a sports hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 spectators, as well as several multi-purpose sports fields and areas for recreational activities. Its strategic location near the A7 motorway makes it a magnet for the surrounding urban areas as well.

The new facility, designed by the Barreca & La Varra architectural firm in Milan, is dedicated to the founders of the Group, Marcellino and Pietro Gavio, and represents a gathering place for the city of Tortona, its surrounding area, young people, and their families, with spaces and facilities for leisure, sports, and culture, as well as being the new home of Derthona Basket. The Tortona Sports Citadel covers an area of approximately 70,000 square meters and includes a new sports area with pavilions for catering, information, and leisure, as well as parking areas.

The focal point of the project is the Nova Arena, the new sports hall mainly used for Bertram Derthona basketball games but also for shows and concerts, and the new Derthona headquarters (Facility building) with two floors above ground, a training court, offices, and meeting rooms for the team, which is also the home court of the Autosped G BCC Derthona Basket women’s basketball team in Serie A1. On the outside, the Alucobond cladding with a mirror finish creates the effect of an almost invisible building, which completely reflects the Citadel and the Tortona countryside.

The master plan is completed by the round infopoint/ticket office and restaurant building, and the changing rooms and gym building, which face the outdoor basketball courts, as well as the large parking lot. There are also two outdoor padel courts.

The Nova Arena has a maximum capacity of 5,000 seats (Gold 1 category) divided into two rings. Spectators enter on the ground floor, which is directly connected to the outdoor area. Inside, the horizontal paths are developed through a continuous ring overlooked by the meeting room, offices, press room, and related services. The ring on the ground floor provides access to the stands, and the first and second rings can be reached via specific vertical connections. The interior of the sports hall is clad in burnished expanded metal, which envelops the central structure, with the addition of a lighting system that allows for special animations on the façade.

All the materials used in the complex are designed for durability and easy maintenance.

Over 300 new trees have been planted in the area. The complex will be connected to the city by a new cycle path and will also contribute to the wider territorial reorganisation, as it will take care of reorganising an important section of the road network.

Construction began in October 2021. In August 2023, the team began using the gym building for training. Construction was completed in 2025, and the Nova Arena was inaugurated on September 21 with a friendly match against Virtus Bologna.