Paolo Scaroni, Milan’s president, gave a long interview to Moneta, the weekly supplement of Il Giornale. He spoke at length about the new San Siro project. Here is what he said:
“It can be the driver of a new leap in the city’s growth, similar to what CityLife and Porta Nuova were, two reference cases of contemporary urban renewal and development that helped reshape Milan and strengthen its international profile. I started dealing with the new stadium in 2018, right after my appointment as president of Milan. After seeing stadiums in many major cities around the world, I immediately understood that San Siro was no longer adequate. Today it is a stadium out of step with modern standards for many reasons. The experience is no longer at the level it promises. I assure you that watching matches in the new venue will be magnificent. It will have 71,500 seats, stands closer to the pitch, sharp angles, more comfortable seating and above all LED technology across several rings with large screens. Beyond the criticism, it will be fully accessible, with family areas and strong safety standards. It will also allow us to grow the premium area for companies, which will offer their clients an exclusive and unique experience.”
On the development of the premium area, Scaroni stated:
"I can assure you that at least ten percent of revenue will come from these activities. In my experience, often more. At the Meazza in San Siro you cannot expand this area beyond the current contribution. Focus on premium spectators only? No, on all spectators. There is too much false information on this point. The premium sections will help us keep prices accessible for fans and families. We want to build a modern, multifunctional and sustainable landmark, drawing on the vision and expertise of Gerry Cardinale and RedBird. The stadium will be a place to enjoy before, during and after matches, with spaces for activities, children’s games, bars, restaurants and various services. We want a stadium alive throughout the week, not only on match days. We are not inventing anything new. We will bring to Milan what already exists in London, Munich and Madrid, and we want to do it even better."
On the economic return for Milan and Inter:
"We expect revenue growth similar to Tottenham, Arsenal or Real Madrid, clubs that doubled stadium income with a new venue, without raising the prices of popular tickets. Impact on the city? According to an Ambrosetti study, the socioeconomic impact will be significant. During construction, it will generate more than 4.5 billion euros. For every euro invested, there will be a return of 2.5 euros. The impact in Lombardy will reach 3 billion, at least 950 million of which in the Metropolitan City of Milan. Once operational, the estimated annual benefit for the area will exceed 3 billion. There will also be job benefits. During construction, more than eight thousand full-time jobs will be created, and more than sixteen thousand during operations. The project will also give the city a new district with green areas, modern and liveable.”
On the timeline, Scaroni said:
"We now enter the design phase, assigned to Norman Foster and David Manica, which guarantees an excellent result. A year of detailed planning will follow, then the Conference of Services with the Municipality and the Region for the construction permit. The goal is to start work in early 2027 and finish in three years, in time for Euro 2032. After that, the redevelopment of the old Meazza area will begin, including a hotel, the headquarters of both clubs, a shopping center and the Milan and Inter museum. We expect at least half a million visitors a year in this renewed space. Risk of delays? I do not think so. After the Municipality’s decision to proceed, everything moved efficiently. The procedure adopted, set by the stadium law, requires collecting expressions of interest, so there was no tender and no room for interference.”
