The initial concept for a new stadium in San Donato Milanese
Featured image credit: AC Milan
The Municipality of San Donato Milanese has announced the suspension of a project for a new stadium for AC Milan, but has said the Serie A football club is still interested in developing a sports centre for its women’s and youth teams at the proposed site.
The announcement from Mayor of San Donato Milanese, Francesco Squeri, comes with Milan and city rival Inter now seemingly making good progress on efforts to develop a new stadium adjacent to their current home, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Until the resurrection of the San Siro vision, the two clubs had effectively abandoned their original stadium plans and hopes of staying in their current neighbourhood in favour of pursuing separate projects. Milan had targeted the San Donato Milanese neighbourhood, while Inter had set its sights on the Rozzano suburb of the city.
With Milan and Inter again changing course, there has been little significant news on the prospect of a new stadium in San Donato over the past year. In April 2024, the Municipality called on the membership of key stakeholders in its vision to develop a new stadium for Milan.
The Municipality called on the input of the Lombardy Region, Metropolitan City of Milan, Gruppo FS Italiane, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, FS Sistemi Urbani and Sportlifecity in the project. Milan in February 2024 took another step towards developing a new stadium in San Donato Milanese after completing the acquisition of a package of land for the project at a reported fee of around €60m (£52.2m/$68.2m).
The land in the San Francesco area had been owned by Sportlifecity, which originally planned the development of a 20,000-seat arena at the site. These plans changed when the Serie A club identified the site as its preferred location for a new stadium, with Sportlifecity 90% controlled by Milan after being acquired in June 2023.
The Municipality in January 2024 fired the starting gun on a “long and complex path” towards delivering a new 70,000-seat stadium for Milan, with the project clearing its first major bureaucratic hurdle. The Municipal Council approved an initial proposal presented by the club in September 2023, when it officially announced for the first time that it was pursuing a new stadium project away from the Meazza.
Along with the 70,000-seat stadium, the plans being driven by Sportlifecity also envisioned a hotel, catering facilities, offices, a club store and museum, a large plaza, auditorium and parking for 3,500 vehicles.
In November, the Municipality of Milan confirmed receipt of an expression of interest from Milan and Inter to acquire their current home and the surrounding land in order to build a new stadium. Following this, the political opposition in San Donato had failed in attempts to suspend the Municipality’s agreement with the club.
The prospect of the development of a major new stadium in the San Francesco area has drawn vocal opposition owing to concerns over its environmental impact, along with the fact the new facility would be built only 850 metres away from the historic Chiaravalle Abbey.
Yesterday’s meeting gathered representatives from the Municipality, along with the Lombardy Region, Metropolitan City of Milan, FS Sistemi Urbani, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana and Sportlifecity. During the meeting it was decided to suspend the ongoing procedure with a view to evaluating any alternative developments of the proposed project.
Squeri said: “For us it remains fundamental to keep the ongoing planning for the San Donato train station active and to plan for the San Francesco area a quality development with a strong sporting connotation.
“In this sense we have had confirmation from (AC) Milan that, should the hypothesis of the stadium in Milan go ahead, their interest in San Donato would still be alive. In particular, they would be interested in the construction of a sports centre for the youth and women’s sectors.
“A possible development of this type would see us in favour as it would enhance an area that is currently a source of critical issues from the point of view of safety. We have been pleased to note from RFI and FS Sistemi Urbani their interest in participating in the Program Agreement even in the event of a remodelling of the project.”
The Municipality of Milan last month launched a tender process calling for alternative proposals for the future of the Meazza, and its surrounding area, with the move resulting in the release of the full presentation made by AC Milan and Inter Milan into their vision for a new stadium.
In what was a procedural move intended to move efforts forward, the Municipality’s public notice for expressions of interest aims to verify the existence of any proposals for improvement compared to the one presented by the rival Serie A clubs on March 11.
Share this