Italian Serie A football clubs Inter Milan and AC Milan are reportedly considering three alternative options for a new stadium amid delays surrounding the project for a venue on the site of the San Siro.
The Corriere della Sera newspaper reports that the clubs have outlined the Sesto San Giovanni, Segrate and San Donato areas of Milan as potential ‘Plan B’ options should the Populous-led project not come to fruition.
In December, Populous saw off competition from Manica/Sportium to land the contract to design a new stadium for Inter Milan and AC Milan. Populous’ project, dubbed ‘The Cathedral’, was selected and at the time of the announcement it was stated that the “coming weeks” would be dedicated to finalising the objectives and development process.
However, little progress appears to have been made since then, with the project having been met with opposition in the form of two appeals. The appeals filed against the project relate to November’s decision by Council leaders in Milan to approve the project, declaring it to be of public interest.
The first appeal was lodged by Gruppo Verde San Siro, whose legal action intends to “obtain the annulment of the declaration of public interest” for the project. A second appeal was filed by lawyers Roberta Bertolani, Felice Besostri and Veronica Dini on behalf of Sì Meazza.
The legal challenges are reported to be among several “obstacles” facing the two clubs in their efforts to build ‘The Cathedral’. As a result, the clubs are exploring alternative options, with the aforementioned sites said to be under consideration.
Along with a 60,000-seat stadium, the project is set to see a reconfiguration of the area in the San Siro neighbourhood of Milan, currently occupied by the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, through the creation of a new district dedicated to sport and leisure. The new district will include a new 50,000 sqm green area, on top of a reduction of built volumetry, in line with the latest regulations – as regulated by Piano di Governo del Territorio.
The district will be pedestrian-only, with over 110,000 sqm of green areas (40% of the total square footage). The parking lot, which represents 40% of the total area in the current situation, will be moved to a dedicated underground area. Most of the sport and leisure activities – located both indoors and outdoors – will be free-of-charge or financed by the city.
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