Milan Mayor Beppe Sala has provided an update on the ongoing stadium situation for Inter and Milan following a meeting with club representatives. He commented, “The meeting between the two teams, with both management and ownership, has just concluded. I observe that, even with Inter’s new ownership, the agreement and unity of intent between the two teams is very strong, and that is positive. The teams conducted extensive feasibility studies on the possibility of renovating San Siro, starting from WeBuild’s project. After a long analysis, they concluded that the renovation is either not feasible or not affordable. Therefore, the idea of renovating San Siro is not viable.”
“They have returned to the idea of building a new stadium in the San Siro area, next to the Meazza. It’s a long process; today I reviewed the documents. A lot of work has been done, and on the positive side, they are not starting from scratch. To move forward with certainty, there are three things the teams are asking for, and I have one request myself,” Sala explained.
“They want to know the exact value of San Siro and the surrounding areas. The valuation has been assigned to the Revenue Agency, and we expect a preliminary estimate in the coming days, with the goal of transferring ownership of the stadium and the area to the teams. Clearly, this value is binding; we cannot sell for less than its assessed value, but we have no intention of speculating on the price. For us, that value will be the law.”
“They also want to understand in detail the restrictions from the cultural heritage authorities if the stadium becomes the property of the two teams. We have scheduled a meeting with the heritage authorities next week.”
“They are asking for a timeline for the operation, starting from today. The teams will need to present a short-term project that includes the new stadium and a re-functionalization of San Siro.”
“I’ve only asked for one thing: to operationally start the process, I need confirmation that this will be the only proposal on the table for the two teams. I have worked to try and preserve San Siro, hoping that the WeBuild project would be acceptable, but in the end, it’s up to the teams. If they tell me the numbers don’t work, I cannot argue. I see the idea of staying in Milan positively, and we will move quickly to meet their needs, but I’ve reiterated the necessity of certainty that this is the path they want to follow.”
Is This a New Stadium? Will San Siro Be Owned by the Clubs?
“Yes. It’s clear we will have to hold a public auction to sell San Siro and the surrounding areas. How they plan to re-functionalize the site remains to be seen, but they are working on it.”
Can the Heritage Restriction on the Second Tier Be Avoided with This Project?
“I believe it could be reconsidered. Whether it’s publicly or privately owned changes things. The positive news is that the clubs consider their presence in Milan important, but beyond that, I cannot yet comment.”
What About Resistance from Local Committees?
“The City Council has made its decision. Resistance exists with everything, especially with something as visible as a stadium. But I stand by the decisions made by the City Council, which voted decisively.”
Are There Any Timelines?
“It’s hard to say. Next week we’ll meet with the heritage authorities, and the Revenue Agency has promised an evaluation by February.”
Is There a Possibility of Demolishing San Siro?
“It’s difficult, and the teams know that too.”
Have You Asked for Guarantees That the Rozzano and San Donato Projects Will Be Abandoned?
“Today, I can’t ask for that, but once I provide the necessary data to the teams, I will be compelled to. For now, it’s not an issue, but later, I will raise the question.”
How Did the Clubs Respond to Your Request?
“I have two years left in my term, so everything needs to happen quickly. I’m putting my reputation on the line, but only when I am sure that there won’t be any changes to the agreements. We should see the green light fairly soon.”
Any Regrets About 2019, When We Could Have Already Taken This Path?
“We’re talking about a significant investment. A new stadium, purchasing the existing stadium, and the areas to be developed. These are huge sums. The clubs are solid, but it also depends on their ownership. Today, the teams are in a stable position and working together.”
