The Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera has discussed the San Siro stadium issue:
The price has been set – €197 million to purchase San Siro stadium and the surrounding area.
Whether it’s deemed fair remains to be seen, but the figure has been informally communicated by the Municipality of Milan to Inter and AC Milan, who will still need to submit a formal request to access the documents and review the Italian Revenue Agency's report.
The issue for Milan and Inter, however, doesn’t seem to be the amount itself
In fact, the stadium investment is, of course, substantial. That’s why for Inter, the expression of interest was signed directly by representatives of the ownership, Oaktree. But the purchase of the area is offset by savings on rent (€10 million annually). Additionally, the cost of demolishing San Siro seems likely to fall on the Municipality.
Negotiations will focus on the timing and manner, as both clubs will proceed with the purchase only once they have guarantees on permits and timelines for building what they plan. Here’s a recap: the plan is to repurpose the current San Siro by preserving part of the second tier and incorporating it into a new project that includes other buildings and green spaces. A new stadium will be constructed nearby.
“I hope this is finally the right time,” said Milan’s mayor, Beppe Sala, at a conference at Palazzo Marino. “This is the last chance.” The mayor knows the project will be divisive
While it remains to be seen whether the process for the clubs and the Municipality will face many obstacles, Milan is keeping the San Donato project alive, having already invested €40 million in it.
The purchase of San Siro must be finalized by next November (the mayor indicates a precise timeline, “by the end of next year’s holiday season”) to avoid the building falling under a heritage preservation restriction. If ownership is transferred from public to private hands, a “light” restriction could apply, allowing only a portion of the current San Siro to remain intact.
