One of the most famous football stadiums in the world, San Siro in Milan, is set to be knocked down after the city council agreed to sell it to AC Milan and Inter Milan.
The vote happened early on Tuesday morning after over 11 hours of debate. In the end, 24 councillors voted in favour of the €197 million (£170 million) sale, while 20 voted against it.
Both AC Milan and Inter had said they might leave the city if they were not allowed to buy the stadium and land. They had already looked at building new stadiums in areas outside Milan.
Now, after years of delays, the two clubs – both owned by American investment firms – and the city’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, have finally agreed on a plan to move forward with a €1.2 billion project.
The clubs first asked to buy the land in March 2024, after a previous plan to keep the land publicly owned was dropped in 2023.
If the sale is completed by 10 November 2025, before a public protection order kicks in to save the stadium from demolition, AC Milan and Inter will take control of about 28 hectares (70 acres) of land in western Milan.
They plan to build a new 71,500-seat stadium just west of the current San Siro, where car parks and a small park are now.
Once the new stadium is finished, San Siro will be mostly demolished. The area will then be redeveloped with new green spaces, offices, and entertainment areas, designed by architects Foster and Partners and MANICA.
San Siro to Stay Until 2031
AC Milan and Inter will continue to play at San Siro for now, with fans filling the 75,000-seat ground until at least 2031, when the new stadium is expected to be ready.
Political Disagreements
The decision caused anger in Milan’s city politics. Some councillors said the mayor and clubs had tried to avoid proper public discussion.
Right-wing parties like the League and Brothers of Italy voted against the sale. Even some councillors from the mayor’s own side didn’t support it. However, the Forza Italia party – once led by former Prime Minister and ex-AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi – didn’t vote at all, helping the decision pass.
Some critics also said the sale price was too low for such valuable land and complained that there were not enough details about the new stadium and the surrounding development.
Euro 2032 Boost
The vote will likely please Italy’s football federation (FIGC), as Milan is hoping to host matches during Euro 2032, which Italy and Turkey will co-host.
FIGC must tell UEFA which five stadiums it wants to use by October 2026. Stadiums can be new or old ones that will be rebuilt – as long as construction starts by March 2027.
Right now, only Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin meets UEFA’s current requirements.
One of the most famous football stadiums in the world, San Siro in Milan, is set to be knocked down after the city council agreed to sell it to AC Milan and Inter Milan.
The vote happened early on Tuesday morning after over 11 hours of debate. In the end, 24 councillors voted in favour of the €197 million (£170 million) sale, while 20 voted against it.
Both AC Milan and Inter had said they might leave the city if they were not allowed to buy the stadium and land. They had already looked at building new stadiums in areas outside Milan.
Now, after years of delays, the two clubs – both owned by American investment firms – and the city’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, have finally agreed on a plan to move forward with a €1.2 billion project.
The clubs first asked to buy the land in March 2024, after a previous plan to keep the land publicly owned was dropped in 2023.
If the sale is completed by 10 November 2025, before a public protection order kicks in to save the stadium from demolition, AC Milan and Inter will take control of about 28 hectares (70 acres) of land in western Milan.
They plan to build a new 71,500-seat stadium just west of the current San Siro, where car parks and a small park are now.
Once the new stadium is finished, San Siro will be mostly demolished. The area will then be redeveloped with new green spaces, offices, and entertainment areas, designed by architects Foster and Partners and MANICA.
San Siro to Stay Until 2031
AC Milan and Inter will continue to play at San Siro for now, with fans filling the 75,000-seat ground until at least 2031, when the new stadium is expected to be ready.
Political Disagreements
The decision caused anger in Milan’s city politics. Some councillors said the mayor and clubs had tried to avoid proper public discussion.
Right-wing parties like the League and Brothers of Italy voted against the sale. Even some councillors from the mayor’s own side didn’t support it. However, the Forza Italia party – once led by former Prime Minister and ex-AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi – didn’t vote at all, helping the decision pass.
Some critics also said the sale price was too low for such valuable land and complained that there were not enough details about the new stadium and the surrounding development.
Euro 2032 Boost
The vote will likely please Italy’s football federation (FIGC), as Milan is hoping to host matches during Euro 2032, which Italy and Turkey will co-host.
FIGC must tell UEFA which five stadiums it wants to use by October 2026. Stadiums can be new or old ones that will be rebuilt – as long as construction starts by March 2027.
Right now, only Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin meets UEFA’s current requirements.