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AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni has once again commented on the stadium issue, explaining why San Siro could not be renovated.
On Wednesday afternoon, a press release from Milan and Inter confirmed that the current San Siro has passed into the hands of the two clubs. It is the first big step in the stadium project, with the new 71,500-seater stadium set to begin construction in 2027 ahead of opening in 2031.
In a recent feature we outlined why this is such an important moment in the plans of the two clubs and what the next steps are. This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport laid it bare with one simple fact: with the new stadium, the Rossoneri and Nerazzurri hope to make €100m more per year.
During his appearance on Nicola Porro’s programme 10 minuti on Rete 4 (via Radio Rossonera) Scaroni gave the latest on the stadium including why the clubs decided a new home was best and what the timescales are.
How will the area surrounding the stadium be managed?
“In the area currently occupied by the Meazza, we will build a hotel, a small shopping centre, and we will house the headquarters of Milan and Inter. We will also place the museums of the two teams and create a sports area next to the new stadium.
“I have always described the San Siro area as a desolate wasteland, in the sense that I consider it an area that is either too empty or too full: too full when there are matches, but the rest of the time it is empty, completely empty and dark to the point that one is afraid even to walk there.
“We envision a stadium that is always alive, day in and day out, even when there are no matches, with restaurants and entertainment options.”
Why was renovating the current stadium not an option?
“Essentially for two reasons. The first is that a renovation would not have allowed us to create the most beautiful stadium in Europe, which is our goal.
“The second is that renovating a stadium that has two teams playing in the league and cup competitions, where between 50,000 and 70,000 spectators enter every three days, is impossible without another stadium nearby to which we can relocate, at least temporarily.
“Unfortunately, there are no stadiums near Milan that have even half the capacity of the Meazza. So, based on all this, we decided to make a much larger investment and build a new stadium next to the Meazza.”
What are the next steps and what is the timeline?
“After six years, I believe – in fact, I’m absolutely certain – that we’ll be able to build the new stadium. We’re starting the design process quickly, and once the design is complete, within a year or a year and a half, we’ll begin construction.
“All of this will allow us, I believe by 2030, to have an efficient and functioning stadium in the San Siro area.”
Could San Siro be an example for the growth of Italian football?
“For me, San Siro is a symbol of Milan. As a non-Milanese who loves Milan, I believe Milan can also be an example in this area, because it’s true that Milan needs a new stadium, but so does almost all of Italy. We’ve wasted at least twenty years in sports investment and we need to make up for it.
“I think and hope that Milan’s example will inspire everyone to follow us and make our football the modern one it needs to be, to gain a foothold in international competitions .”
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