To create this particular design, the stadium consists of 26 'petals' and upper tiers of the higher ring separated by 8-metre empty spaces, sufficient to guarantee satisfactory security conditions.

Being the third largest football stadium in Italy after Milan's San Siro and Rome's Stadio Olimpico; as well as the largest to be used by only one team, San Nicola holds 58,270 people,[1] and was filled to capacity for the first time during a 2013–2014 Serie B playoff match for A.S. Bari in June 2014.

It hosted the 1991 European Cup Final, won by Red Star Belgrade.

The Stadio San Nicola hosted Italy's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against the Republic of Ireland on 1 April 2009.

Italy were booed off the field after Ireland shocked the nation by scoring in the 87th minute.