MILAN (BN24) — The historic San Siro stadium is set to be demolished after Milan city council approved its €197 million ($231 million) sale to Inter and AC Milan in a contentious overnight vote, ending years of uncertainty over the future of one of football’s most iconic venues.
After more than 11 hours of debate that stretched into the early hours of Tuesday, the measure passed with 24 votes in favor and 20 against. The approval allows the two Serie A clubs, both owned by American investment funds, to purchase the stadium and over 28 hectares (70 acres) of surrounding land in the city’s western outskirts.
The deal clears the path for the construction of a new 71,500-seat stadium just west of the current San Siro, on land now used for matchday parking and a local park. Foster and Partners will design the new arena in collaboration with MANICA. Once completed, San Siro, nicknamed “football’s La Scala,” will be almost entirely demolished, replaced by new parkland, office spaces, and entertainment venues.
The clubs plan to continue playing at San Siro until 2031, when they expect to move into the new stadium. The timeline is critical: the sale must be finalized before November 10, when a public building protection order would prevent demolition of the existing structure.
The vote follows years of delays and a failed attempt in 2023 to redevelop the site while keeping it under public ownership. In March, the clubs proposed a full purchase of the land, prompting city officials to reconsider their stance under pressure from the teams, which had previously explored relocating to suburban sites.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who backed the proposal, secured a majority with help from the abstention of councillors from Forza Italia, the center-right party founded by the late Silvio Berlusconi, a former Italian prime minister and ex-AC Milan owner.
However, the resolution sparked sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Opponents, including members of the hard-right League and Brothers of Italy, as well as dissenters within Sala’s own left-leaning majority, accused city leadership of bypassing public scrutiny and failing to provide development details. Others argued the sale price was too low for such valuable real estate.
Despite the backlash, the decision is likely to be welcomed by the Italian football federation (FIGC), as Milan is among the potential host cities for Euro 2032, which Italy will co-host with Turkey. The FIGC must submit its final list of five stadiums to UEFA by October 2026, and construction must begin by March 2027. Currently, only Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin meets UEFA’s infrastructure criteria.
The San Siro has long been a symbol of Italian football and European nights, serving as home to both Inter and AC Milan since 1947. While its demolition marks the end of an era, club officials say the new venue will be vital to modernizing their operations and securing their future in an increasingly competitive football landscape.
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