Magpies hold Juve in stadium opener

Published Sep. 8, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Juventus opened its new stadium to a 1-1 draw Thursday against Notts County, the English club that provided its white-and-black jerseys more than 100 years ago.

Italian international Luca Toni, scored the first goal in Juventus Arena early in the second half. Martin Allen's League One side spoiled the celebration later in the match, when Lee Hughes equalised the game three minutes from full-time.

The 40,200-seat facility was built on the site of the former Stadio delle Alpi, on the outskirts of Turin, at a cost of €120 million ($168 million).

The first modern football stadium in Italy, it features 84 luxury boxes, a commercial center to be opened next month and two restaurants in addition to normal bars with eating areas.

With no running track, the seats are close to the pitch and the benches are in the first rows of the stands like at some English stadiums.

Juventus wore pink jerseys until 1903 when it asked one of its players, Englishman John Savage, if he knew anyone who could supply shirts in more resistant colors. Savage had a friend in Nottingham send the black-and-white kits that the Magpies still wear and Juventus has worn for every one of its record 27 Italian league titles.

Juventus will play its first official match in the new stadium - which has not been named yet - against Parma on Sunday to open Serie A.

Founded in 1862, Notts County plays in the third tier of English football.