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- AC Milan and Inter agreed last month to buy San Siro and surrounding land for reported €197m
- Deal still needs to be officially confirmed by city government
- New stadium would be part of urban regeneration project
The sale of the San Siro to Italian soccer giants AC Milan and Inter Milan has been approved by the city council, which could lead to the iconic stadium being torn down.
The two Serie A clubs reached an agreement to buy the San Siro and surrounding land last month, pending approval from the council.
The sale was subsequently given the green light by the council this week after a lengthy overnight vote, with debates taking place for nearly 12 hours.
AC Milan and Inter are reportedly set to pay €197 million (US$231 million) for the stadium and surrounding area, with the city of Milan covering some of the costs. The clubs would then knock down the San Siro and build a shared stadium with a capacity of 71,500, which would be the centrepiece of a large urban regeneration project. The aim is for the new venue to be ready by 2031 so it can host Uefa Euro 2032 matches.
The deal still needs to be officially confirmed by the city government.
A joint statement from AC Milan and Inter read: ‘AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano are pleased with the city council’s approval of the sale of the San Siro and its surrounding area: a historic and decisive step for the future of the clubs and the city.
‘Awaiting the official confirmation of the council’s decision by the city government, the clubs look ahead with confidence and responsibility to the next steps of the process that will lead to the creation of a new stadium meeting the highest international standards – a world-class facility destined to become a new architectural icon for Milan and a symbol of the passion of football fans around the world.’
The San Siro has faced an uncertain future for several years. In September 2024, AC Milan and Inter abandoned their plans to renovate the ageing stadium, which hasn’t been fully modernised since the 1990 Fifa World Cup, and instead shifted focus to constructing a new one in the same vicinity.
Before that, Milan had unveiled plans for a new 70,000-seat stadium, while Inter were reportedly exploring a location in Assago. Both teams have called the San Siro home since 1926 and 1947 respectively.
AC Milan were the original owners of the San Siro from its opening in 1926 until 1935, when ownership was transferred to the Municipality of Milan.
It has been reported by several Italian media outlets that the plans to demolish the San Siro could spark a series of appeals and protests from opponents.
The last soccer venue to be built in Italy was in 2011, when Juventus opened their 40,000-seater Allianz Stadium in Turin.
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