Virtus has officially presented its new title and main sponsor for the 2026/27 domestic Serie A campaign.
Under a high-profile agreement signed with renowned cruise operator “Costa Crociere”, the club will compete in the domestic championship under a new official name: Virtus Costa Bologna.
The formal unveiling took place in an extraordinary setting aboard the luxury cruise ship “Costa Pacifica” docked in Savona, symbolically kicking off the collaboration between two flagship Italian brands.
Centenary milestone, new arena, and EuroLeague expansion potential
Virtus is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary during the upcoming season, alongside the planned move into a state-of-the-art modern arena.
While the current contract focuses primarily on visibility and marketing activations within the Italian championship, club officials made no secret of the strong potential to expand this corporate partnership into EuroLeague competition in the near future.
A NEW ERA AT VIRTUS! ⚫⚪
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) September 13, 2026
Costa Cruises will become Virtus Bologna’s new title sponsor in Serie A for the season in which the Italian club celebrates its 100th anniversary. 🇮🇹
After many years, Segafredo Zanetti will no longer feature in the team’s name or on the Bologna club’s… pic.twitter.com/g9Dy7SCyYl
Massimo Zanetti: “A union of two brands focused on the future”
Virtus figurehead Massimo Zanetti expressed immense satisfaction with the agreement during the official press conference:
“With Virtus, a partnership has been born between two entities that share so much in common: the same ambition to stay at the absolute top, and the same ability to transform a single evening or journey into a lasting emotion. These are two historic stories looking toward the future.
We stand alongside Virtus in their centenary season and the opening of their new home, with the desire to work together on projects capable of uniting two Italian standard-bearers recognized across Europe and around the world. If we turn a journey into a cruise, it means we have added beauty and success. The Costa brand represents massive added value not only for my club, Bologna, and basketball, but for Italian sport as a whole. Together, we can achieve great things,” Zanetti concluded.
