3 weeks ago
34
AC Milan and Inter face in historic circumstances this weekend. They will play in a club-owned San Siro, a moment which has taken years to get to.
There has been a lot said about the actual game this weekend. However, there is another big factor to focus on: the fact that this game will take place in a co-owned stadium. It is not the first fixture of this instance.
Nevertheless, it will be the first Serie A game to take place in the new San Siro. As a result, the result has the potential to be historic. It can even contribute to further history if it aids any bid for the Scudetto.
Scaroni interview
A game of this magnitude is rare. In recent years, it has been one team fighting at the top, and you’d have to go back to the Champions League year to find a season with as much importance. Now, both teams are fighting at the top, and it adds to the pressure.
Today, Paolo Scaroni has spoken to RCS Sport Business Talk about the game and the future, via MilanPress.
“It will be a derby that marks an era: the first as co-owners of San Siro. The Milan derby is unique in the world; you can see friends and family walking to the stadium wearing Inter and Milan jerseys: that makes it special, and that’s why the atmosphere is so great.
“When I try to understand why Milan and Inter, off the pitch, have had such a complicated yet always harmonious journey, I think of Milan. When I go to watch the derby, I see families or groups wearing Rossoneri jerseys and one wearing Nerazzurri, walking together.
“I attribute all of this to Milan: it’s capable of transforming antagonism on the pitch into a friendly atmosphere off it. This city manages to create such a positive atmosphere that allows us to realise the stadium project.”
The new future…
“We need to replicate the beauty of San Siro: how you can watch matches. I’m critical of the Meazza; I’ve always considered it old, but it has one great advantage: you can watch matches clearly. In the new stadium, they’ll be better seen because it will be more vertical and closer to the pitch.
“It will be a stadium that always works: we’ll overcome the issue of an overly crowded area on match days and empty on other days. It will be vibrant every day, like the great stadiums of Real Madrid or in England.
“It will be more comfortable, accessible to all, and will guarantee higher matchday revenue without increasing the price of popular tickets. And it will make San Siro a new chapter in the city, a green and modern neighbourhood.
“Over the years, I’ve seen a shift in the general opinion of the Meazza. Before, when I said it was old and ugly, everyone told me it was beautiful. Looking at the stadiums in Qatar, Germany, and the Champions League, the mood has changed, and it was also crucial in convincing the city council.
“We won’t demolish everything, but I’m convinced that, when we have the most beautiful stadium in the world next door, no one will think about the Meazza anymore. Things evolve: the new will make the old lose much of its charm—not nostalgia, but charm, yes.
RedBird…
“I’ve realised that American sports are seen more as entertainment than pure competition. For us, as owners and clubs, the only thing that matters is winning matches: everything else is secondary.
“RedBird, in fact, has sport as its mission: it invests in sports around the world and provides us with expertise we wouldn’t otherwise have. This also helps us greatly with the stadium project: we are led by a shareholder who has participated in the construction of dozens of stadiums around the world, which reassures us in our decisions.
“At Casa Milan, we don’t build stadiums every year: for them, it’s routine; for us, it’s an event. Furthermore, RedBird has invested more than €250 million in the transfer market in the last two years and closed three financial years with profits, proving that you can invest, make a profit, and have a great stadium project. This demonstrates the shareholder’s capabilities and long-term vision.
Reforms needed…
“There are many reforms that need to be made. Every time Parliament and politicians interfere in football, they create problems instead of solving them. We can’t advertise betting, while a minimal share of the sector would be enough; this measure is worth €100 million a year.
“We finally have a good anti-piracy law, but if it’s not rigorously enforced, it’s useless: we’re losing €300 million. Money is the tool we can use to do everything, including allowing young talent to develop without paying €90 a month.
“During COVID, no one wanted to focus on football, while all other sectors received aid. If sport is truly a constitutional right, we can’t go the other way when discussing these issues.”
English (US) ·