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.
San Siro's official name is Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. It has been home to AC Milan and Inter since 1947.
Latest on San Siro demolition, renovation and upgrade plans
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Latest 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?
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 bid 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 you are fantastic ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/7cwMnOlKwB
— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) September 3, 2023
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.
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 35 trophies in Italy, and AC Milan has won three 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.