The new £1 billion stadium for AC Milan and Inter Milan will have a maximum capacity of 65,000 only!
But this ensures that matches will not be played in front of empty seats.
The legendary San Siro, the two clubs’ existing 80,000-capacity home stadium, is planned to be dismantled and replaced by a beautiful new stadium called as ‘The Cathedral’ by 2030.
Despite the clubs’ intention to begin building as early as January 2024, the plans and location have yet to be finalised.
The designs have been changed several times due to concerns from local authorities, and there is still no agreement on whether the stadium will be oval or square, as seen in architect’s drawings.
And it is isn’t yet known whether the new stadium will go up next to the existing Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, which would then be demolished, or moved to the Sesto San Giovanni area.
‘Our project is for a stadium of 60-65,000 seats,’ said Inter infrastructure development director Mark van Huuksloot as per Calcio e Finanza.
‘What we’ll try to do is fill it every game, which right now is not happening.
‘We have sales and occupation that is inferior to 65,000, plus we want to increase the level of corporate hospitality.
‘That will also help to keep prices in check, to avoid big increases for the fans. I am confident we’ll be able to keep everyone happy.’
Milan have surpassed 70,000 in all of their Serie A home matches this season, while Inter have done so in all but one. The two sides’ derby, which Milan won 3-2, drew 75,475 people.
However, attendance at Champions League games tends to be lower, with Inter vs. Bayern Munich drawing only 58,951 and AC Milan vs. Dinamo Zagreb only 61,341.
‘To be competitive again, we need a new, modern structure that better matches the interests of the teams and supporters,’ Milan advisor Giuseppe Bonomi said at a public debate on the new stadium on Wednesday.
‘The difference in revenue from ticket sales between Milan or Inter and the big European sides like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Barcelona varies from €80m to €140m [£71.76m to £125.6m].
‘That shows that in order to be competitive on the international stage, clubs need stadiums, which can then have a positive effect reverberating over the whole city.’
