AC Milan and Inter Milan Unveil Plans for Generali Stadium, signaling the End of San Siro
Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium took a significant step toward obsolescence on Thursday, as AC Milan and Inter Milan announced joint proposals for a new venue, the Generali Stadium, during a briefing held at the historic Castello Sforzesco. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in Milan’s football landscape, as the clubs move towards demolishing the historic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, better known as San Siro.
The two football giants have already secured a naming rights deal with Italy’s largest insurance firm, giving the future stadium its name. In a show of solidarity, Inter supporters held a protest in the castle courtyard before the announcement, showcasing a banner that read, “You will never extinguish the lights at San Siro,” while chanting “hands off San Siro.”
The Architects and Design
Last year, AC Milan and Inter Milan selected architectural firms Foster + Partners and Manica to design the new venue. The duo is esteemed for their work on major stadiums, including Wembley Stadium in London and Lusail Stadium in Qatar. During Thursday’s briefing, architects Norman Foster and David Manica introduced the innovative plans for the stadium.
Manica remarked on the emotional challenge of designing a replacement for such a beloved arena, emphasizing the goal of preserving “the soul” of the San Siro in the new building’s design. “The most important thing we realized when we designed this project is that the San Siro is a feeling, more than a building,” he stated.
Stadium Features
The proposed design boasts a striking oval shape featuring 80 diamond-shaped frames and a sweeping double-curved roof. These diamonds not only provide a unique aesthetic but also allow for visibility from both inside and outside the stadium. The tallest points of the diamonds will reach 60 meters at the two ends, known as “the curva,” which hosts die-hard fans typically.
Foster highlighted the importance of the design’s response to the crowd, explaining, “In the new stadium, look at the shape of it; it’s low in the body and it rises up at either end.” The stadium will sit atop a podium, accommodating essential amenities such as parking, a museum, and club stores.
The new structure aims to accommodate 71,500 seats across two tiers, compared to the three rings of the San Siro. According to Manica, fans will feel as if they’re “sitting on the grass,” due to the design that steeply inclines the seating, creating an intense and vibrant atmosphere.
The project also incorporates advanced acoustic design principles to enhance crowd noise within the stadium, ensuring that it becomes one of the most exciting venues in global football.
Timeline for Construction
The timeline for the Generali Stadium aims for completion by the time Italy co-hosts the 2032 European Championship with Turkey. Construction is set to start in 2028, with the first match scheduled for the 2031-32 season. However, concerns regarding slow Italian bureaucracy could potentially delay the project.
Meanwhile, both clubs will continue to play at San Siro during the construction phase, which will occur on an adjacent parking lot, ultimately leading to the demolition of the historic stadium.
Financial Considerations
Total investment for the new stadium is projected to exceed one billion euros, with the estimated cost for acquiring the San Siro set at €197 million ($226 million). The clubs anticipate revenue of around €180 million ($208 million) each annually from the new venue, significantly more than the current €80 million ($93 million) they generate. This increase is expected to result from attracting tourists on non-match days, hosting concerts and events, and monetizing the naming rights to Generali.
The announcement of the new stadium marks a transformative period for Milan’s football scene, blending rich historical sentiment with modern architectural innovation.
