AC Milan are continuing their efforts to move to San Donato, but there are some fears about the move, and today, the Mayor of San Donato has responded to them.
It seems like a constant back-and-forth with the stadium situation from the outside, but in reality, the stadium debacle is heading in one direction which is away from San Siro, as much as the Mayor of Milan would like to avoid this fate.
Perhaps, describing it as a back-and-forth is an unfair analogy, considering it seems with each week a move away grows in favour, even if there are constant efforts to change the minds of both Milan and Inter.
Reports from last week suggested that both clubs were finally presented with WeBuild’s plans for San Siro after the initial meeting was ridiculed for a lack of anything concrete. However, it seems it will have little effect.
Today, Francesco Squeri spoke to 7Days about the criticisms of the Rossoneri’s projects, and his words have been relayed by Calciomercato.com.
“The stadium theme is very complex and articulated. It certainly absorbs a lot of attention because its development will condition the future of San Donato, and therefore any evaluation requires a lot of in-depth study and analysis. However, attention is not diverted to the ordinary administration of the municipality, which certainly cannot stop in the face of a private initiative project.”
Political objections from the Majority and Opposition…
“On the stadium project, we receive many requests both from within the majority and from the ranks of the opposition. Anything that contributes answers to the critical aspects of the project and anything that is brought in in propositional terms has always been well received. Unfortunately, we do not always observe a proactive spirit on the part of those who, although in opposition, hold institutional roles. We simply take note of this.
The exasperation of criticism…
“I always listen to the criticism and fears that are represented to me on the hypothesis of the stadium development in San Donato. They often coincide with my own and, precisely for this reason, I will be very careful to ensure that within the path of the Programme Agreement, concrete and effective solutions are given to all the critical issues that we have already highlighted publicly.
“On some occasions, I certainly observe that the limit of legitimate dissent and criticism is exceeded, but those who govern always have a duty to respond with content.”
Is there political speculation going on or are these legitimate concerns?
“Concerns are legitimate, understandable and often shared. It is right that they occur in the normal political dialectic. It is clear, however, that there is also political speculation on the part of those who now hope to ride roughshod over a project on which, when they were governing, they declared themselves willing to evaluate it.”
How the city of San Donato would be changed if the project were to be successful…
“With the stadium, a project would be developed that would bring enormous prestige and a strong centrality not only for San Donato but for the whole of South Milan. This, from the point of view of the attractiveness of the area, is already a huge advantage.
“In addition, a more efficient and functional public transport system will be developed, especially concerning the suburban railway line, bringing all the territories along the Via Emilia axis from Lodigiano to Milan closer together, leading to a strong decrease in traffic. Services for citizens and city maintenance will be increased thanks to the current resources that will enter the municipal coffers every year.
“Lastly, to stop at the most relevant aspects, an induced activity will be generated from which many will benefit, both in terms of job opportunities and the activities that will be able to develop. Moreover, it should not be overlooked at all that a system such as the one hypothesised with very high energy efficiency and production of renewable electricity, can contribute, as a Renewable Energy Community, to the energy needs of the area with positive economic and environmental spin-offs.”
Parking in the area of the South Milan agricultural park…
“The car parks of the project hypothesised on the areas of the PASM are compatible with the rules and the Technical Norms of the PASM itself, which foresees, in the urban belt areas of the Agricultural Park, the possibility of realising interventions such as social and recreational facilities, sports facilities and functions of general interest.
“Car parks would be built with the permeability characteristics provided for and imposed by the PASM. In addition, every square metre of parking, again according to PASM rules, will have to be compensated with the same surface area to be allocated to green areas and possible environmental mitigation works.”
Infrastructures and road connections…
“The project includes the construction of an infrastructure system to ensure access to the area. To the north, an overpass bridge will be built over the railway with two lanes in each direction. In addition, two east-west cycle-pedestrian bridges will be built connecting the city with the stadium area, the Agricultural Park and Chiaravalle.
“Further work will be done on the road system through a new motorway junction on the southwest side and with interventions between the San Martino roundabout and the new bridge and in the area south of the San Francesco area. Cascina San Francesco will be redeveloped with a public function as well.”
Public transport to reach the area…
“The Administration believes that in order to make the project viable, interventions must be implemented to ensure that the area can be reached mainly by Public Transport. From this point of view, a strong investment in the station would be an intervention that could guarantee this result.
“Work is already underway on this with the relevant authorities, including Ferrovie. This intervention will bring enormous benefits not only on competition days but every day for commuters, who will be able to have a more efficient and functional service, which is currently not the case.
“Discussions with Ferrovie are envisaging the doubling of the railway, the construction of wider platforms and new tracks for parking trains, which will allow the number of passengers to increase from the current 6,000 travellers/hour to a potential 20,000 travellers/hour.
“I believe that these figures are the most concrete answer to those who say, looking at the structure of the railway stop today, that there are no conditions to bring spectators by train to the stadium.”
A statement to the citizens…
“We are engaged in an important work for an intervention that will change the future of the city. I believe and we strongly believe that this project represents a great opportunity for the city and the entire South Milan area, but it must be carried out very carefully.
“Aware of this, we are deploying all the necessary expertise, including through specific consultancies, to ensure, especially about environmental and traffic issues, that effective responses are formulated for the critical issues that have already been highlighted, and that the development of the project shows a strong connotation of public interest.
“I recall, in fact, that the stadium proposal is a private initiative project on a private area in which a plan for the construction of a sports arena has already been approved.”
If the construction of a stadium is this complicated in Italy, so i can expect Serie A will never come close to EPL in near future in term of financial strength. I am not Italian, but afaik, football is arguably the most favourite sport in Italy. I was only once travelling to Italy for work for 4 days, and I could feel their enthusiast in football. But with this complicated bureaucrazy……..
It’s easily fixed if the government pass legislation. New staidums were built for Italia 90. They could easily do it again.
An Italian that talks this much has nothing to say. I was hoping the Meloni government would be a help to fixing Calcio. It is sad that 2nd and 3rd tier English clubs have better facilities than Serie A.