AC Milan are a major step closer to building their own stadium in San Donato and clear similarities can already be drawn between the project and Bayern Munich’s current stadium.
As highlighted by La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below), there are various features of the Allianz Arena in Munich that Milan would certainly like to replicate with their own new stadium when it is constructed.
The Allianz Arena has a 75,024 capacity, slightly more than the 75,000 that Milan are aiming for, and it is full for virtually every game. It has 106 rooms that can be used all year round for events and meetings, 28 kiosks, two restaurants with 1,000 seats each, a bistro with 400 seats, a megastore that is open every single day, and a museum that can be visited all year round.
These are all ways in which Bayern can earn money outside of a matchday. Since it was opened in 2005, it has hosted six World Cup matches, a Champions League final, four Euro 2020 matches, and an NFL match.
It will be a Euro 2024 venue and will host the 2025 Champions League final. Despite getting these major events and having sold-out matches each week, it is not near the centre of the city.
It is in the north, a similar distance from the centre of Munich as Milan’s stadium will be from the centre of Milan. The space means there are around 11,000 parking spaces, and a metro line that takes fans from the centre to the stadium in 20 minutes, with a 15-minute walk needed on the other side.
Cycling to the stadium is also very easy, if the weather permits. This is the sort of blueprint that Milan must try to follow for their new stadium.
