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The first visible demolition works around San Siro have begun as AC Milan and Inter Milan continue to advance plans for their new stadium.
A historic ticket office has now been removed, while further preparatory work is taking place around the site earmarked for the proposed new ground.
San Siro ticket office first to go in demolition project
The historic southern ticket office at San Siro has been demolished as the first visible preparatory works for AC Milan and Inter Milan's new stadium project get underway.
The former Curva Sud ticket office was built ahead of the 1990 World Cup but had long since stopped playing a significant role in the operation of the stadium. The area has now been fenced off, with the clubs planning to construct a temporary fan services facility on the site.
Nearby Parco dei Capitani has also been closed to allow environmental remediation work to take place on the land where the proposed new stadium, designed by Foster + Partners and MANICA, is set to be built.
Recent geological surveys reportedly found contamination levels above legal limits. Although developers say the pollutants do not pose an immediate health risk, the land must be cleaned before construction can begin.
The work comes amid an ongoing legal battle over the sale of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and surrounding land to Milan and Inter.
Five appeals from residents' associations and civic groups are currently being considered by the Lombardy Regional Administrative Court, with a ruling expected within approximately 60 days.
Both clubs insist the current preparatory work complies with legal requirements, having submitted the official notice for the commencement of works to the City of Milan in March.
FGG says: An emotional first step towards new Milan stadium
The removal of an old ticket office may seem like a relatively minor development, but for many supporters, it will feel like the symbolic beginning of the end for San Siro.
There is still a long legal and construction process ahead before the new stadium becomes a reality, but visible demolition work makes the proposed transformation of this famous site feel more tangible than ever.
For supporters who have grown up watching football at one of the world's most iconic grounds, that will inevitably bring mixed emotions.