The Nuovo Stadio Milano concept
Featured image credit: Populous
AC Milan and Inter Milan have rejected a proposal backed by the Municipality of Milan to redevelop the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, with the two Serie A football clubs now returning to the idea of a new stadium located close to their current shared home.
The latest major development in the long-running saga emerged today (Friday) following a meeting between senior leaders from the two clubs and the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala. Following the meeting, Sala told reporters: “I noticed that the understanding between the two clubs is very strong, and this is certainly positive.
“The clubs have brought me thorough analysis of technical and economic feasibility with respect to the hypothesis of restructuring the San Siro. The conclusion is that it cannot be restructured at affordable costs, and that they do not consider the San Siro hypothesis as had been thought of in recent months.
“Their proposal, at this point, is to return to a new stadium next to the Meazza. This is a very long process that has already been discussed. It is not from scratch, but from a series of deliberations already made.”
The Municipality announced last month that Milan and Inter were “evaluating the technical and financial aspects” of acquiring the Meazza. The Municipality said the two clubs, together with a “team of technical and legal advisors”, were evaluating either an outright purchase of the stadium the authority owns, or striking a deal for its operating rights. It added that a meeting between the Municipality and the clubs was scheduled for the second week of September.
In June, Italian construction company Webuild submitted its plan for the redevelopment of the Meazza to stakeholders, with reports stating the project would see the demolition of the stadium’s entire first and third tiers in order to bring it up to modern-day standards.
Webuild was tasked in February with compiling a feasibility study for the Serie A giants to stay at their historic home. In May, Sala said the project drawn up by Webuild was the only path forward for the Meazza, after the Municipality lost an appeal against protected status restrictions related to the venue.
The Municipality in October had launched an appeal against a decision placing protected status on the Meazza, effectively preventing the original plans by Inter and Milan to demolish the facility and build a replacement adjacent to it.
Up to this point both clubs had effectively abandoned their original stadium plans, and hopes of staying in the San Siro neighbourhood, in favour of pursuing separate projects, Milan in San Donato Milanese and Inter in Rozzano.
Inter and Milan have shared the Meazza since 1926, and the venue has been repeatedly renovated over the years. Both clubs had been working on a joint Nuovo Stadio Milano project to be built on the same plot of land occupied by the two clubs’ current home.
In December 2021, Populous saw off competition from MANICA/Sportium to land the original contract to design a new stadium. Populous’ project, dubbed ‘The Cathedral’, was selected, with the coming weeks having promised the finalisation of the objectives and development process of Milan’s new stadium.
However, the venture became mired in bureaucratic red-tape to the extent that both Milan and Inter, opted to pursue alternative plans.
Sala today stated that should work resume on developing a new stadium in the San Siro area, he would require Inter and Milan to formally step back from their proposed projects in San Donato and Rozzano.
He added: “I have made only one request: we will work on the aspects requested by Inter and Milan, but to start the procedures operationally I need confirmation that this will be the only option for them.”
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