Iconic stadium set for demolition after £172m sale approval granted

One of Europe’s most iconic football stadiums is set for demolition, as Inter and AC Milan have reached a deal to acquire the San Siro area with plans to build a new stadium on the site

Inter and AC Milan have seen their acquisition of the San Siro area approved in a decision that could see the iconic stadium demolished. The Serie A giants plan to invest £1billion to build a new stadium and a wider transformation of the area.

Mayor Beppe Sala made the historic decision to sell the land to the two clubs, and the Milan City Council has now approved it. The £167m sale got over the line in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the motion passing with 24 votes in favour and 20 against.

“AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano express their satisfaction with the City Council’s approval of the sale of San Siro and the surrounding area: a historic and decisive step for the future of the clubs and the city,” the two teams said in a statement.

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp reiterates Club World Cup view in face of criticism from Sky Sports reporterREAD MORE: What Jose Mourinho did at Stamford Bridge speaks volumes as ex-Chelsea boss makes feelings clear

“While awaiting the official announcement of the outcome of the council debate, the clubs look with confidence and responsibility to the next steps in the process that will lead them to build a new stadium that meets 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 ambition is to have a new stadium ready for 2031, in time for the European Championship the following year. The development will include the stadium, a museum, shops, hotels and football fields.

It also means the San Siro will cease to exist as it currently does. Around 91% of the ground will be demolished — the first and third tier stands and part of the second tier will be removed, and the remaining sections will be preserved by creating a park and pedestrian pathways.

Architectural firms Foster & Partners and Manic have been tasked with leading the redevelopment, with the former in charge of urban planning and the latter with the stadium’s construction. It is said the area is expected to generate more than 16,000 jobs by 2035, £2.7bn in economic growth and £1.2bn in GDP.

The sale of the area must be finalised before November 10. At that point, the San Siro’s second tier will take on historical significance as it turns 70 and becomes more difficult to demolish.

According to Italian media, there are concerns that the land could be sold for profit in the future, with Inter and AC Milan both owned by US investment funds. The sides have previously threatened to build stadiums outside the city if their plan was rejected.

The San Siro remains one of the most iconic stadiums in world football. The ground was built in 1925 and remains the largest stadium in Italy with a capacity of 80,000.

It retains its significance, too, and is set to host the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.