Scaroni: ‘Milan and Inter hope to buy San Siro land by summer 2025’

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: General view outside the stadium prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Milan President Paolo Scaroni explains why building a new stadium is essential for them and Inter to ‘balance the books,’ hoping they can purchase the San Siro land by the summer.

The website Calcio e Finanza hosted an event on Infrastructure and Sport this afternoon, with the debate over how red tape can be cut to allow more investment in creating new stadiums in Italy.

While many clubs have struggled with these problems, none more so than Milan and Inter, who were repeatedly refused the option of building a new stadium right next to the existing Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the San Siro neighbourhood of Milano.

After both trying to set up other projects outside the city walls, they returned straight back to the original plan.

“I have been dealing with the stadium since 2018,” noted Scaroni at the event.

“This is not the time to stir up controversy, but it has been like the game of Snakes and Ladders. We went back to the original project of San Siro, which evidently was not as improbable as they first suggested.”

The determination of the two Milanese clubs to build a new arena has been buoyed by having foreign owners, whether American or Chinese, who do not understand the Italian reticence to invest and innovate.

“If you have a new stadium, you balance the books,” assured Scaroni.

Why Milan and Inter cannot restructure the Stadio Meazza

The local authorities and many fans pushed to simply restructure the existing stadium, but the Milan President outlines why that is not feasible.

“Why restructure a stadium when two teams play there so regularly? Can you imagine every three days another 70,000 people flood to enter a building site: it’s ridiculous, imagine what could’ve happened.

“When we started the project, everyone remembered how marvellous San Siro is, but over time they realised that needs have changed. When there is no match, the entire San Siro area is just empty.

“This is a conservative country, which considers even logical changes to be an affront, but we are glad to see in the Mayor there is a great supporter for this project.”

Scaroni outlines that while in other countries the stadiums have become money-spinners, Italian football is still stuck in the dark ages.

“If there is a city in Italy with people and businesses willing to pay for premium hospitality areas, it is Milano. I think out of the 71,000 spectators we imagine for the new stadium, there would be 9,000 corporate hospitality seats that we can sell to businesses.

“That is currently impossible, because the rules mean we are not even allowed to cook anything on site, only ‘reheat’ food. I’ve seen stadiums that have breweries within the infrastructure.

“We have a huge road ahead of us for the stadium, but we can do it.”

When it comes to timing, the Milan President feels they finally have a frame to work with.

“The intention is that we will buy the stadium and the area around it by the summer, so we are positive.”