AC and Inter Milan have officially begun the process of constructing a new stadium at San Siro and redeveloping the surrounding area.
Both Milan clubs submitted a project feasibility document to the Municipality of Milano yesterday (12 March). The plan proposes the acquisition of the Giuseppe Meazza stadium and surrounding areas, along with a plan for constructing a new state-of-the-art stadium.
An announcement posted to both clubs’ websites, read: “The proposal, developed by top professionals and industry experts, reflects the strategic vision of the two clubs’ ownerships and lays the groundwork for the creation of a landmark project that will serve as an international benchmark and bring significant benefits to the city of Milano and its residents.
“Over the next few months, the two clubs will engage with the Municipal Administration to discuss and refine the details and distinctive elements of the proposal, aiming to complete the acquisition process by July 2025.”
Redeveloping an iconic football landmark
AC and Inter Milan have shared the stadium, commonly referred to as the San Siro, since 1947. The ground has become iconic across the footballing world, symbolising the fierce rivalry between the Italian clubs.
Primarily the plan was to redevelop the stadium before it was decided that building a new ‘state-of-the-art’ home would be a better use of funds. However, this process won’t be straightforward despite the club’s ambitions to complete the purchase by this summer.
The San Siro is owned by the city, and local councillors have expressed concerns that they are bypassing democratic processes. However, the city could face the risk of both clubs relocating if an agreement isn’t reached.
Much like Manchester United’s current plan to build a new stadium, Milan’s new home will act as the centrepiece for a redeveloped area. The clubs will hope that this, combined with the amount of money both teams bring into the city, will be enough to secure a deal.
Although even if this moves quickly, construction won’t begin until after the 2026 Winter Olympics. Italy is hosting the Winter Olympics and the San Siro has been selected as one of the arenas to be used.
Furthermore, supporters are not entirely sold on the idea either. The current stadium has a seating capacity of 80,000 while the new and improved stadium will allegedly have a maximum capacity of around 70,000.
In addition to this downsizing, much like opinions shared by Manchester United, supporters are concerned that it could lead to increased ticket prices, as clubs are increasingly shifting to more commercially-focused strategies.
AC Milan has already started to increase its use of hospitality seating as a revenue stream. Last year’s financial results showed that the club’s commercial revenues and royalties reached €52.9m, an increase of €6.4m. This was supported by the sale of premium seating at the San Siro stadium it launched last season, the ‘Club 1899 Front Row Experience’.
