AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni has explained the importance of building a new stadium and also revealed why the current San Siro cannot be renovated.
Speaking at a press conference held alongside Inter’s CEO Alessandro Antonelli, Scaroni touched upon a few of the key points related to the stadium project and stressed the urgency of the new ownership to get things moving.
“Three years ago we started this path that we look at with optimism. Tomorrow begins the public debate that we look at in a positive way. We will listen to what will come out, it is true that it is a process that has made us lose another year, but if we manage to get out of it in a positive way it will be a year obtained,” he said (via SempreMilan.it).
“I would like to explain why San Siro cannot be restructured. There are various reasons, but I will limit myself to saying the main reason: how do we play 50 plus other events with a mega construction site in which 50,000 people enter every six days? I assure you that this thing is impossible and very dangerous.
“All the renovations [in other projects] took place where there was only one club and where there was a nearby stadium to move to for a certain period. Every time I hear why we don’t renovate the San Siro, I think that those who say it have either not thought fully or do not want to do anything. For us it is an impossible hypothesis. So either we do the new stadium at San Siro or we do it somewhere else.”
Milan have recently switched owners from Elliott Management to RedBird Capital, but every major source has reported that the American fund wish to continue and accelerate the plans for a new stadium given their experience in the sectory.
“They are even more convinced than Elliott on the need for Milan to need a new stadium. RedBird know what it means to own a stadium. They are giving me great support with people who have built many stadiums. Elliott is a financial fund, while RedBrd has sport as its vocation. The need for a new stadium is therefore now even more felt,” Scaroni said.
There has also been talk of the Rossoneri potentially choosing to build a new home without Inter, perhaps moving to the north east of the city and in particular the Sesto San Giovanni area if things do not progress concretely with the current plans.
“We are busy on San Siro, think about how much money we have spent so far, as well as obviously how much work we have done. If we are here it is because we believe in the San Siro project,” Scaroni said.
“Obviously we are also looking elsewhere because we have to to have alternatives and then because maybe we find areas with characteristics that San Siro does not have. We therefore do not have plans B, but only different plans A.”
On the long waiting times: “If a decision-making process takes so many years, it is normal that things can change in that period. Everything changes and moves, we do not stand still. Faced with such long times, the world changes. Milan also has changed ownership.
“A lot of things happen. We don’t have to decide tomorrow morning unfortunately. If we had to decide tomorrow we would build the Cathedral, but unfortunately it isn’t. So we feel free.
“The Cathedral cost 600 million, today perhaps it would cost 800. We have not yet made certain accounts, we will do them when the executive project is in place. From the moment the executive design starts, it will take several months before starting the works. The executive design costs about 50 million, maybe it has increased too, but it is a fundamental point before building the new plant.”
On the rent to the Council: “The stadium will be owned by the Council that will give the concession, just as it happens now. All the land belongs to the Municipality of Milan.”
Antonello also made some comments related to the project including the cost and the positive impact that the clubs believe it would have upon the city as a whole.
“Another important aspect that I would like to put on the plate is that Milan and Inter are part of the history of this city and have always been part of the active part of this city. Consequently, the intention is that the clubs continue to invest in Milano and for Milano,” he said.
“For Milan is meant not only for the fans but also for the citizenship. The investment will be around 1 billion and 300 million euros, and will guarantee thousands of jobs. The objectives are clearly sporting because the stadium is now an essential element to improve.
“But beyond that there are environmental, social and sustainable objectives. Sustainability is key in projects like these. These values are incorporated in our project that we are going to propose.
“On the other hand, today the fans ask us for a ‘different experience’ than the one we lived years ago. Today they ask us for an immersive experience compared to simply watching the game.
“The fact that there are extra services allows us to get closer to European standards. The area will be accessible and open, respecting the highest quality standards. There will be water sustainability, circulation of the roads.
“So this is a project that will try to give the city a new area of social aggregation. The clubs want to renew this sense of belonging to the city, with an innovative and attractive project.”
Antonello on the capacity of the stadium: “Before the pandemic the average capacity was around 60 thousand spectators. After the pandemic there is a wider participation. The idea is to have a stadium with 60-65 thousand seats, on this we are working.”
