Design & Development

AC Milan, Inter call for more time on stadium project

Featured image credit: Simone Daino on Unsplash

Italian Serie A football clubs Inter Milan and AC Milan have sent a letter to the Municipality of Milan requesting more time and greater clarity on plans for the San Siro stadium as the teams consider their own separate projects.

In a statement released yesterday (Wednesday), Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala revealed that the city asked the two clubs for an update on the economic and financial plan relating to the joint stadium project following the conclusion of a public debate process in mid-April.

The clubs have sent a joint letter to the city requesting an extension to the deadline for reviewing the project dossier, and clarification on any constraints on the existing San Siro and on the hypothesis of a public referendum.

Sala said: “The request for a referendum to be held for the maintenance of San Siro (not envisaged by the project) was initially rejected by the Board of Trustees, appointed by the City Council, but then called into question by the TAR (Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale); now a new pronouncement from the College itself is awaited.”

He added: “In recent years, the Municipality has taken all the necessary steps, with transparency and in compliance with the rules. I think it’s time to accelerate.”

Inter and AC Milan have been working on the joint Nuovo Stadio Milan project, but ongoing delays concerning this venture have prompted both to reassess their options. The new joint stadium is intended to be built on the same plot of land occupied by the two clubs’ current home, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, more commonly known as the San Siro.

In March, AC Milan confirmed Ippodromo Snai La Maura, an equestrian and horse racing facility located close to the San Siro, as its targeted site for a new stadium. It came after the club had set out its commitment to build the “most beautiful, modern and functional stadium in the world”, citing Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as an inspiration.

AC Milan has also reportedly appointed the CAA Icon agency to support its efforts to build a new stadium without cross-city rival Inter. News of the club’s intention to split from Inter and pursue its own stadium was first reported in February.

Inter has itself been exploring plans for a dedicated stadium and has reportedly selected the town of Assago as its ‘Plan B’ site for a new home.