Mayor Sala’s perspective and options for the future of San Siro stadium in Milan
The first citizen of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, shared his vision for the fate of the San Siro stadium, promoting a renovation project that aims to modernise the historic stadium, preserving its cultural and historical value, while ensuring its suitability to host events of international resonance.
A resumption of the debate on the renovation of the San Siro stadium is looming, however the two Milanese teams are already working on an alternative plan
The Milan and Inter clubs maintain their faith in the building of a new sports facility, while leaving the door open for a future involvement with San Siro. With the green light from Beppe Sala, mayor of Milan, announced in recent days, a detailed analysis of the feasibility plan proposed by the large construction group Webuild for the renovation of San Siro will proceed. However, in the communiqué issued by the city administration, specific limitations imposed by the teams emerge, without whose acceptance the restyling hypothesis would be unfeasible.
The companies will define guidelines for a potential upgrade of the facility, with the aim of achieving a more modern and functional stadium, including increased seating for exclusive spaces, bars, and adequate facilities. In addition, the importance is emphasised of preserving the capacity during the works, ensuring that the construction sites are compatible with the schedule of matches, sporting events and concerts in order to avoid negative economic impacts. This is very difficult to achieve, but not impossible.
At the same time, the project will have to consider the urbanistic implications in the area surrounding San Siro, especially with regard to its redevelopment and the potential for commercial and local offers. A binding requirement, yet to be defined, is the imposition that the San Siro stadium must become team-owned. This requirement stems from the clubs’ need to secure the opportunity to include the stadium and surrounding areas (car parks, green spaces) as assets in the event of debt renegotiations or sales.
In Inter‘s inner circles, uncertain considerations emerge regarding the timing of the start of the work, which should mainly take advantage of the summer season, considering that 19 concerts are already planned for this year and that the programming extends until 2025 with an eye on the Olympic ceremony set for 6th February 2026, hinting at possible temporary interruptions in the work. The forced cohabitation between the championship and construction work, with an influx of over 70,000 people, presents additional complexities. In Milan, on the contrary, an attitude of listening and waiting prevails regarding the outcome of the plan proposed by the mayor, considered the last attempt to safeguard the Meazza.
AC Milan and Inter Milan are examining the possibility of building new stadiums of their own, adhering to recent international trends, mainly from the United Kingdom, proposing a radical redefinition of the management and ownership of city sports infrastructures.
Between tradition and innovation: is a balance for the ‘Scala del Calcio’ possible?
In the current context, the focus is on finding a harmonious compromise between the preservation of the rich historical heritage and the imperative need for renovation. The redevelopment of San Siro might prove to be the most suitable option, honouring the stadium’s glorious past and ensuring it a vital role in the contemporary sporting and cultural landscape. Such an initiative, however, will require considerable investment and a long-range perspective. Will this administration be able to bring it to fruition? And what could happen should the helm of the municipal administration change at the end of its term? Will everything be called into question? And will the San Siro stadium become an election campaign topic, both at the Milanese city and metropolitan level, considering also the other municipalities where the facilities owned by the two football teams should be built?
As can be seen, the questions posed are far from few and easy to answer. The debate, still in its embryonic stage, oscillates between various options, without reaching a definitive conclusion as to the fate of the San Siro stadium. This debate reverberates a broader issue concerning the challenge of preserving historical symbols in the modern era. The choice that will be made regarding the future of San Siro will condition not only the world of sport, but will also touch upon issues of identity, heritage and urban development, consequently determining the fate of Milan as a city capable of reconciling respect for the past with policies of innovation and transformation.
A new life for Milan’s San Siro Stadium: here is the project to redevelop and enhance the Scala del Calcio
The future of the San Siro stadium is linked to a complex negotiation involving the City of Milan, the owner of the facility, and the two main tenants and users, which, as is well known, are the two football teams AC Milan and Inter Milan. Also involved are the listed construction company Webuild and other minor and related entities. The opposition between the different ‘factions’ for and against the demolition of the Meazza also continues. For the time being, the only certainty is that the Scala del Calcio will host the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
Redevelopment project of San Siro stadium
According to reports from qualified sources, the Meazza could return to ‘top shape’ with targeted interventions without any stoppage of the football championship. The project includes:
- Restyling of the third ring and viewing gallery
- Mobile roofing and conservation of the Maldini Facchetti garden
- No impact on the championship
Restyling of the third ring and viewing gallery
The renovation of the third ring aims to reduce costs and environmental impact. It is planned to dedicate the third ring to usable and liveable facilities throughout the week, with a panoramic view of the city. In addition, a new panoramic gallery over the city is proposed.
Mobile roofing and conservation of the Maldini Facchetti garden
The installation of an additional mobile roofing and an under-flooring system on the lawn for non-football activities and events is being considered. The project does not involve land consumption, but the redevelopment of already cemented public areas.
Impact on the Italian football championship Serie A
The redevelopment would not affect the Italian championship Serie A and Champions League. These are the agreements that Mayor Sala has made with the two Milanese clubs. The work could be carried out without interrupting the teams’ sporting activities, guaranteeing the stadium’s static performance.
Timing of works for San Siro stadium
The work could take about two and a half to three years, with an agreed sequence of work for maximum safety. The project could start in 2023 and finish in 2025, in time for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The redevelopment of the San Siro Stadium could lead to a significant transformation of the facility, offering new opportunities and services for the community and football fans.
San Siro: revisiting the Meazza stadium renovation project
The contracted construction company Webuild will proceed with the drafting of the concept for the renovation of the San Siro within a time frame of three months, closely monitoring the directives given by the two city teams, AC Milan and Inter. According to Scaroni, Milan’s president, ‘The possibility of realising the project in San Donato Milanese is still the primary option.
The work of a potential new stadium in Milan is like a sort of game of the goose. After a succession of year-long debates at the Palazzo Marino on proposals for new infrastructures, alternatives to the San Siro, and transactions of land outside the heart of the metropolis, we now find ourselves evaluating a feasibility analysis that should have been done years ago and that prefigures the renovation of the Meazza stadium, a structure fervently defended by a section of the city’s community and subject to constraints by the Superintendency of Architectural Heritage (with reference to the second ring).
An important conference held at Palazzo Marino between the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, Inter’s CEO, Alessandro Antonello, and AC Milan’s president, Paolo Scaroni, investigated and oversaw the feasibility process for the redevelopment of the San Siro. The Milan City Council issued an official statement underlining the acceptance of a series of agreed steps. The construction company Webuild, will manage the construction of the studio within three months. In parallel, the two teams will provide the basic guidelines for the proposed renovation, the goal of which is the creation of a more efficient and state-of-the-art stadium.
The representatives of the football clubs firmly reiterated the imperative need to ensure the continued capacity of the stadium during the renovation works. The renovations will have to be carefully planned so as not to interfere with the schedule of matches, sporting events and entertainment activities, in order to avoid negative economic consequences and to ensure an engaging, safe and comfortable experience for all spectators. It is also essential to take into account possible urban developments in the San Siro area, especially in relation to its urban redevelopment. However, Milan president Paolo Scaroni emphasised that for the Rossoneri, ‘the priority remains the San Donato Milanese project’.
The crucial question regarding the ownership of San Siro is crucial and must be settled in favour of the football teams. Currently, the stadium is owned by the municipality and the teams pay an annual rent of between 8 and 10 million euros, part of which is earmarked for maintenance. In the future, this situation should evolve, considering that a renovation of this magnitude will have to take into account the urban planning directives and constraints imposed by the municipality.
Discussions began about five years ago about the possibility of building a new structure in the San Siro area, with a planned investment by AC Milan of €600 million. Despite the presentation of the project proposed by the football club (the ‘Cathedral’), significant opposition to the project emerged from part of the city right from the start. The city council imposed restrictions on the construction, in accordance with the Territorial Government Plan, and demanded the development of green areas. However, during the last vote on an update of the project in December 2022 – in line with the new parameters set by Palazzo Marino for greater environmental protection and for an inclusive stadium with at least 70,000 seats – there were only 23 votes in favour, a few abstentions, and a clear division within the majority, with more votes coming from the centre-right opposition. This was a very uncertain and risky support.
A year ago, AC Milan attempted to explore the possibility of a new building on the grounds of La Maura, an undeveloped green area in the north-west of Milan. However, in this case, opposition from environmentalists was extremely stiff.
Recently, AC Milan signed a programme agreement with the municipality of San Donato Milanese to define the details of a new stadium within the next eighteen months. The facility should have a capacity of 70,000 and include four buildings, including the Milan headquarters and a hotel. The bureaucratic process for this project continues, and a meeting between the city’s top management and Paolo Scaroni is scheduled to take place soon. Despite this, many in Milan are betting that in the end they will opt for a redevelopment of the San Siro, shared by the two teams, as it is considered a cheaper solution and, above all, more pleasing to the Milanese citizens.
And what do you think about this ongoing diatribe in Milan? Are you in favour of renovating the San Siro or would you prefer to see the two Milanese teams each play in their own, exclusive stadium?
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