By Salma El-Sakka
AC Milan and Inter Milan have unveiled joint proposals for a new 71,500-seat stadium, named Generali Stadium, that will replace the iconic San Siro from the 2031-32 season. The plans were presented on Thursday at the historic Castello Sforzesco in Milan, where the clubs also announced a naming-rights deal with Italy’s largest insurance firm, Generali.
Design and Architecture
The project is led by architectural firms Foster + Partners and Manica, whose previous work includes Wembley Stadium, Chase Center in San Francisco, and Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Architects Norman Foster and David Manica emphasized preserving the “soul” of San Siro while creating a new structure. The design centers on an oval form with a frame of 80 large diamond shapes and a sweeping double-curved roof. The diamond points rise to 60 meters behind each goal, echoing the “curva” sections where hardcore fans sit.
Stadium Features
The 360-degree bowl will have two tiers of seating, compared to San Siro’s three rings, with seats positioned so close to the pitch that spectators will feel as though they are sitting on the grass. Steep seating inclinations of up to 37 degrees aim to amplify atmosphere and visual impact. Acoustic engineering is designed to capture and intensify crowd noise while minimizing external disturbance. The exterior will feature customizable LED lighting and projection capabilities.
Timeline and Construction
Construction is expected to begin in 2028 on an adjacent parking lot, with the first match targeted for the 2031-32 season, aligning with Italy’s co-hosting of the 2032 European Championship with Turkey. The clubs will continue playing at San Siro during construction, after which the old stadium will be largely demolished. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has warned that Italian bureaucracy could cause delays.
Financial Details
The purchase of the San Siro site was valued at €197 million ($226 million). Milan president Paolo Scaroni said the clubs will invest more than €1 billion in the new arena. Each club could earn up to €180 million ($208 million) annually from the new stadium, compared to about €80 million ($93 million) currently. Revenue streams include tourism, concerts, events, and the Generali naming-rights deal.
Previous Attempts
This is not the first time the Milan clubs have pursued a new stadium. Two proposals were presented in 2019, with Populous’s “The Cathedral” chosen over a rival design in 2021. Public debate and bureaucratic delays forced a shift back to a shared-stadium model on the San Siro grounds.
