Milan’s Mayor, Giuseppe Sala, announced on Tuesday that he hopes to sell the iconic San Siro stadium to Inter Milan and AC Milan by the start of the summer. The mayor stated that he expected to receive a formal feasibility study, including a purchase offer from the two clubs, which would then be submitted to the Milan city council for approval.
The move is part of the ongoing efforts by both Serie A clubs to replace the current San Siro with a modern stadium. Inter and Milan had initially tried to build a new stadium on the site but faced bureaucratic and political challenges, leading to the project’s abandonment in 2023. However, a new plan has been relaunched with the goal of a partial demolition of the current San Siro and the creation of green space, sports facilities, and entertainment venues around the new stadium.
A key update to the project is that both clubs now plan to buy the land, rather than rent it, with a new stadium potentially featuring a capacity of over 70,000 seats—up from the previously planned 60,000. The construction of the new stadium will begin after next year’s Winter Olympics, for which the current San Siro will host the opening ceremony.
The timeline for the project also includes renovating the existing stadium after the new one is completed, which is expected to take a few years. Sala stated that the old San Siro will likely remain in place until 2030. However, the sale must happen soon, as any delay would trigger a building protection order preventing the demolition of the second tier of the stadium.
The project has raised political concerns, with some Milan city councillors voicing dissatisfaction over the perceived bypassing of local democracy in pushing through the sale. Additionally, the clubs’ consideration of alternative locations outside the city, such as AC Milan’s acquisition of land in San Donato Milanese, adds further pressure on Sala’s administration to ensure the sale goes through smoothly.
Fans have expressed concerns about the potential increase in ticket prices and the replacement of regular seats with high-end hospitality areas in the new stadium, which could affect the affordability of attending matches.
