San Siro stadium is a pilgrimage for football fans. Perhaps world football's most iconic stadium – only Wembley Stadium and the Maracana are on par – this historic ground hosts Italian giants and city rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan, but its future is decidedly uncertain.
Football Ground Guide is here to give you all the latest on plans to demolish San Siro, AC Milan and Inter's plans to move elsewhere and everything you need to know about this glorious amphitheatre's future.
Latest on San Siro demolition, renovation and upgrade plans
April 2025 update: Milan derby set to take place amid San Siro uncertainty
Two huge Milan derbies are set to take place in the coming weeks as AC and Inter Milan do battle in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. It's clashes like these at the famous old stadium which make you wonder why both clubs are reportedly looking for a way out of the San Siro but perhaps the electric atmosphere that will no doubt be constant across both legs could sway certain figureheads at both clubs.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, rumours continue to swirl that both clubs are preparing a joint bid to buy the stadium from Mian City Council. If they can manage that, then they would have complete autonomy on a renovation project which could persuade both clubs to stay.
February 2025 Update: Milan Mayor States 2025 is a Decisive Year
Milan Mayor Beppe Sala has declared that 2025 will be a pivotal year for both football clubs as they aim to begin construction on a new stadium. During a recent press conference, he mentioned that initial steps could be taken as early as February or March.
The mayor emphasized that if issues are not resolved by the summer of 2025, particularly concerning the demolition of San Siro, much of the necessary work will take place after he leaves office.
Despite the mayor's efforts to encourage both clubs to stay at San Siro, they have firmly insisted on moving to a new venue. Recently, Italian news sources reported a new development: both clubs are preparing a 200-page proposal to acquire San Siro and the surrounding areas.
Their plan includes the construction of a new stadium with a seating capacity of 70,000, estimated to cost around €1 billion, along with an environmental assessment report. Given the time constraints, Oaktree and RedBird Capital are eager to finalize the purchase proposal as soon as possible.
Additionally, AC Milan has already invested €40 million in the proposed new site in San Donato and is considering relocating the PUMA House of Football to this new location.
December 2024 update
While the future of San Siro remains an emotive issue for the residents of the district. Milan Mayor Sala was recently booed during a discussion about the stadium.
Calcio e Finanza reports that the mayor was booed while delivering a speech in which he said emotional considerations are overriding rational discussions. Sala emphasized the need to retain San Siro, saying that it has become a politically significant establishment in Milan.
Earlier in September Mayor Sala reported that both Inter and AC Milan had rejected a renovation proposal from a construction company. With that, it became clear that both clubs were determined to leave the iconic stadium. There were strong indications that the two clubs that have shared San Siro for many years are likely to go their separate ways.
However, the current owners of both clubs have recently opened more channels of communication, indicating a willingness to work together. As a result, they could either settle for a stadium project in San Donato or build one adjacent to San Siro. Should they go ahead with the collaborative effort to share a new stadium, the financial burden of constructing a new venue would greatly be reduced for each team.
Both clubs had acquired land elsewhere with AC Milan looking to build a new ground in San Donato Milanese, a suburb in the southeast of Milan. On the other hand, Inter Milan were exploring thier options in the south of the city, especially in the towns of Assago and Ruzzano.
Ownership situation, in which case former Inter owners Suning, a Chinese company, were not on good terms with AC Milan owners, RedBird Company, complicated the process of moving out of San Siro. But since Oaktree acquired Inter Milan, the frosty relationship between the two clubs seems to have ended, paving the way for current and future collaborations.
October 2024 update – Milan clubs intent on leaving San Siro
Despite pleas from the Mayor of Milan, both Inter Milan and AC Milan reaffirmed their desire to move from the stadium in October 2024 when they met with with Italy's culture and sport minister to discuss potentially building a new stadium in the San Siro district without tearing the original down.
With the destruction of the stadium no longer a viable option, both Milan clubs have floated the idea of building a new shared stadium nearby while still maintaining the original San Siro for other sporting events, potentially youth fixtures.
According to reports in the city, everyone in the meeting was left satisfied by the plans and a period of form-filling and plan-submitting will now take place to ensure that it gets green-lit by the powers that be in Milan.
While Milan mayor, Beppe Sala, has been keen for the two clubs to renovate the existing stadium, both clubs have now firmly rejected these proposals. This new suggestion could be the only way to ensure both clubs remain in the San Siro district which could perhaps be a compromise for all parties.
24 September update – San Siro no longer hosting 2027 Champions League final
It was announced on 24 September 2024 that the San Siro was stripped of hosting the 2027 Champions League final. The last time the Champions League final was played at the famous stadium was back in 2016, when Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid on penalties.
Mark Ogden, who is the senior writer at ESPN, provided the following update: “But despite confirming Milan as the 2027 venue, UEFA did so on the proviso that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) submitted information in the plans for the multi-million-pound refurbishment of the San Siro.
“Those plans remain uncertain with both Milan and Inter considering moving out of the San Siro, officially named the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, due to an ongoing battle to secure funding for the renovation of the existing stadium.
“If funds cannot be secured, the 75,817-capacity San Siro, which opened in 1926, could be demolished.
“And with the future of the stadium still shrouded in doubt, UEFA has announced that it will now seek a new host venue for the 2027 Champions League final following a meeting of its Executive Committee on Tuesday.”
BREAKING: San Siro will no longer host the 2027 Champions League Final ❌??
The Municipality of Milan could not guarantee that the San Siro would not be affected by renovation work during that time period. pic.twitter.com/7g1J61U51q
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) September 24, 2024
The host venues for the 2025 and 2026 Champions League finals have already been decided, with Munich's Allianz Arena winning the bidding rights for 2025 and Budapest's Puskas Arena for 2026. A new bidding process will now open for 2027, with a final decision expected in May or June next year.
UEFA said: “As the Municipality of Milano could not guarantee that the San Siro stadium and its surroundings would not be affected by refurbishment works in the period of the 2027 UEFA Champions League final, it was decided not to assign the final to Milan and to re-open the bidding process to appoint a suitable venue, with a decision expected in May/June 2025.”
9 September update
The latest news about the future of San Siro in Italy suggests that the Milan Mayor still hasn't given up on convincing both Inter and AC Milan to stay at the stadium rather than move elsewhere.
According to La Republica, the Mayor, Beppe Sala, has pencilled in meetings with executives of both clubs for September, where a resolution will be found one way or the other. Sala will discuss the recent study by WeBuild (more information below) with both clubs and try to convince them to see a renovation plan through.
As things stand, both clubs remain committed to building new stadiums away from San Siro.
Is a renovation back on the cards? – June 2024 update
At the end of June 2024, bosses from AC Milan, Inter, and the city of Milan were presented with the findings of a study conducted by WeBuild on potential plans for the renovation of the San Siro. One of the conclusions from the study is that reducing the capacity to around 30,000 seats is the most feasible option.
Inter will assess the documents concerning how a revamped San Siro could look and will compare them to their plans for a new ground in Rozanno. Calciomercato reported at the time that Inter want to know about the findings of the study as soon as possible so that they can make a decision between Plan A and B before the end of the year.
??️?️Milan Mayor, Beppe Sala, on the WeBuild meeting that took place earlier today:
“This afternoon, WeBuild presented a feasibility study for a deep restructuring of the San Siro Stadium to #Inter, Milan and the Municipality of Milan.
In my opinion, this is an extraordinary… pic.twitter.com/49exy48tSm
— Inter Xtra (@Inter_Xtra) June 21, 2024
The San Siro is set to host the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics and was originally penciled in by UEFA to host the 2027 Champions League final. As a result, redevelopment work is needed soon to ensure the stadium meets modern requirements.
WeBuild General Director Massimo Ferarri told Gazzetta dello Sport, “We are at an advanced stage. Of course, we are not working on the final project but on the preliminary one, and it is almost ready. If everything goes well, we can start work in the summer of 2025. The first phase could be completed by the end of 2025, the second in 2026, and the last in 2027.”
What was included in the WeBuild project?
The fundamental theme of any renovations to the San Siro would be a complete modernisation of the ground, a concept present throughout the WeBuild presentation.
Developments to the entire first tier of the stadium, including seating areas, were at the forefront of the plans presented as the Italian construction company demonstrated how they would vastly improve the matchday experience for supporters.
While the second and third tiers would also see renovations, the work would be far more straightforward. Instead, the rest of the important renovations would be made outside the ground altogether.
For example, improving accessibility to the stadium through developments to structures such as the car park was also an integral part of the WeBuild presentation. Transforming the San Siro into a multi-use entertainment facility, a direction many modern stadiums appear to be moving in, by implementing attractions such as museums and restaurants, was also high on the priority list.
However, while the above sounds very appealing and would likely see WeBuild successfully turn the San Siro into a ground in line with the modern era, some aspects will undoubtedly anger supporters.
Most notably, there were suggestions that renovations would drastically increase the number of hospitality seats offered, further excluding average match-going fans from the matchday experience.
San Siro saved
Until this year, this wonderful piece of footballing architecture looked likely to be torn down, but that has changed recently. An intervention from the Regional Commission for the Cultural Heritage of Lombardy has saved San Siro. They rightly note that its distinctive appearance gives it cultural significance.
In early 2024, Milan's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, proposed plans for a San Siro redevelopment in a bid to convince Inter Milan and AC Milan to stay put. The redevelopment plans would allow both clubs to continue playing at San Siro while the work took place and would bring the stadium into the 21st century after decades of neglect.
Both clubs rejected the proposal then and continued to move forward with their plans to move outside of Milan with new stadiums. However, as the latest update proves, the situation is still flexible.
Why did AC Milan and Inter Milan want San Siro demolition?
The two clubs want a new stadium and are a long way down the line towards this aim.
The famous architecture studio Populous – also currently working with Manchester United on refurbishment plans for Old Trafford – have designed a new ground for the Milan clubs called ‘the Cathedral'.
Populous' designs were apparently inspired by two of Milan's most famous buildings: the incredible Duomo di Milan cathedral and the adjacent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping centre.
AC Milan plans for new San Siro
The plans involve a 60,000-seat arena in a rectangular shape. Populous' managing director, Christopher Lee, claimed The Cathedral would become one of the world football's “most iconic stadiums” by being a “world-class, modern, and truly bespoke home for the legendary clubs of AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano.”
Original planning involved building The Cathedral alongside San Siro, which would be demolished. The whole area would become a pedestrian-only district emphasising green space.
These plans are now futile. San Siro will remain. However, both clubs remain keen on changes, and after nearly a century of ground-sharing, the close relationship between the city rivals might change.
🚨 San Siro is NO longer set to host the 2027 Champions League final as originally planned.
The local council could not guarantee that San Siro and its surroundings would not be affected by renovation works for the final.
The new venue for the final is expected in May/June… pic.twitter.com/B3fBiUIyI2
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) September 24, 2024
Where will AC Milan and Inter Milan play?
Are AC Milan leaving the San Siro?
Most likely, yes. The opposition to demolishing Stadio Giuseppe Meazza does not end AC Milan's goal to leave their historic ground.
There are suggestions that Milan will build a new stadium in San Donato Milanese, an area the club are already invested in.
San Siro might be wonderful, but its facilities are extremely outdated, and its potential to earn revenue from its clubs is very limited.
Are Inter Milan leaving the San Siro?
Again, yes, but not with AC Milan. Architects Journal reports Inter has links with the Populous company and will continue working with them despite plans for The Cathedral being shelved for now.
Inter will likely base their new stadium plans in the Rozzano area, south of Milan city centre.
Why do AC Milan and Inter Milan share a stadium?
San Siro was originally the home of AC Milan, from its construction in 1926 until 1947. At that point, Inter – who had been playing their home fixtures at the Arena Civic – began sharing with their rivals.
It was, and is, a marriage of convenience dictated by the lack of alternatives and the ease of sharing, which allows the clubs to share financial responsibilities towards the ground.
The City of Milan owns the stadium, with AC Milan and Inter acting as shared tenants.
Why have the government stopped the San Siro demolition?
Authorities state that the San Siro has a ‘cultural interest' and cannot be demolished.
Inter and AC Milan have long been prepared for such a verdict and thus have been making alternative plans for some time.
Here's what the authorities said:
“The Regional Commission for the Cultural Heritage of Lombardy expressed a positive opinion on the existence of cultural heritage of the second tier at the San Siro stadium, in view of future verification under article 12 of Legislative Decree 42/2004.
“Thus, the committee endorses the proposal of the superintendence.
“It should also be noted that the Archival and Bibliographic Superintendence for Lombardy, during the same session, recalled the value of the west grandstand of the stadium as an ‘exposed archive' for the plaques/epigraphs documenting the national and international successes of Inter and Milan.”
What do fans think of San Siro rebuild plans?
Football fans have long loved Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Many regard it as a sort of football pilgrimage to visit this remarkable, breathtaking arena in the fabric of which is so much sporting history.
Me when the wrecking ball rolls up to demolish San Siro. pic.twitter.com/Acdn9pyPd9
— Matt Santangelo (@Matt_Santangelo) March 17, 2022
Ultimately, though, this is a decision for the two clubs chasing greater revenues to keep up with their domestic and continental rivals in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.
Once again, fans will be left bitterly disappointed by a decision that is out of their hands. And the saddest part of all, it will be them same fans who ultimately have to pay for a new stadium with raised ticket and merchandise prices.
Who is more successful, AC Milan or Inter Milan?
AC Milan have won seven European titles, including five since 1989. They are undoubtedly the bigger club on a global stage.
However, Inter Milan have won 37 trophies in Italy, and AC Milan have won six fewer. It speaks volumes that in Italy, the ‘Derbi d'Italia' (The Derby of Italy) is played between Juventus – the country's most well-supported club—and Inter rather than AC Milan.
Inter also appeared in a major European final, most recently being defeated by Manchester City in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final.