AC Milan President Paolo Scaroni recently shared his thoughts on the club’s stadium plans and various challenges facing Italian football during the Sport Industry Talk event in Rome. His comments shed light on the evolving stadium situation and broader issues affecting the sport.
Scaroni emphasized the importance of creating a world-class venue for Milan and Inter. He stated, “If Milan and Inter build a stadium in 2030, it has to be the most beautiful in the world.” The Milan president also addressed the iconic status of San Siro, noting, “It’s not San Siro that’s iconic, it’s Milan and Inter that made it iconic. We are happy to stay in the San Siro area; it is well connected and it is our home.”
The club is currently evaluating the possibility of constructing a new stadium in the San Siro area. Scaroni outlined a vision for the future, saying, “Once built, we aim to transform the Meazza, using that area for sporting and commercial activities with the clubs’ headquarters and museums there too.”
Scaroni addressed two significant challenges facing Italian football: betting regulations and piracy. He argued for changes to current betting laws, stating, “We absolutely need to change the law that prevents us from benefiting from betting. It makes no sense for us to miss out on this opportunity. Betting on Serie A generates €35 billion, and it’s absurd that no Italian club benefits from it.”
Regarding piracy, Scaroni described it as “an enormous problem for Italian football.” He estimated that piracy costs between €500 million and €1 billion in Italy alone, affecting both broadcasters and clubs.
Reflecting on his experience at Milan, Scaroni discussed the transition between different ownership groups. He noted the contrast between Elliott’s approach, which he likened to that of a hedge fund, and RedBird’s more strategic investment in sports. Scaroni acknowledged his own status as a relative newcomer to football management, calling himself a “neophyte” compared to more experienced figures like Giuseppe Marotta and Antonio Percassi.
