The San Siro will NOT be demolished as the assessment confirms it is of ‘cultural significance’, dashing Inter and AC Milan’s hopes of building a new stadium on the same site
- The San Siro cannot be demolished because it has “cultural significance,” authorities said
- Inter and AC Milan saw the verdict coming and have separate, alternative plans
- Both clubs are looking to land south of the city to build a new home ground
The San Siro cannot be demolished because it has ‘cultural importance’, it has been confirmed.
This officially ends plans by Inter and AC Milan to demolish large parts of the historic stadium and build a new ‘Cathedral’ house on the surrounding grounds, although the clubs had been planning this rejection for some time.
Inter and AC Milan are therefore pursuing other stadium options elsewhere, which will most likely see them part ways after sharing a real football cauldron since 1947.
The Grand Title Regional Commission for the Cultural Heritage of Lombardy has concluded that the stadium’s second tier has “cultural significance,” as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
In 2025, the San Siro in its recognized form will turn 70 years old, the age at which the obligation to verify whether it has a cultural significance would have started.
The San Siro cannot be demolished because it has “cultural significance,” authorities have confirmed
Standing there since 1926, the stadium has witnessed some of football’s most iconic moments
The major Milan clubs asked the Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Metropolitan City of Milan to check this in advance.
In its original form, the stadium was completed in 1926, but the middle tier, along with the iconic spiral towers, was added in 1955.
The chances of the Serie A giants being allowed to rebuild at the San Siro site have been crumbling for months, so the confirmation comes as no surprise.
Inter has already claimed exclusive rights to carry out a feasibility study on a plot of land in Rozzano, a few kilometers south of Milan, until April 30, 2024. Calcio and Finanza.
They are expected to continue working with Populous, the architectural firm originally chosen to design ‘The Cathedral’ on the grounds of the San Siro. Architect magazine.
Meanwhile, AC Milan is eyeing a ground in San Donato, a few miles southwest of the city, and has bought a 90% stake in Sportlifecity, the company that owns the land.
AC Milan and Inter have shared the ground as a home since 1947, but are looking for new solutions
The iconic columns and second tier, which is of cultural significance, were added in 1955
‘The Regional Commission for the Cultural Heritage of Lombardy, after examining the attached technical documentation and obtaining the opinion of the Superintendence for the Metropolitan City of Milan, has unanimously issued a positive opinion on the existence of cultural heritage of the second level at the San Siro Stadium, for future verification under Art. 12 of Legislative Decree 42/2004,” reads the Commission’s statement.
‘The committee thus endorses the proposal of the Superintendence. It should also be noted that during the same session the Archival and Bibliographical Superintendence for Lombardy recalled the value of the West Stand of the stadium as an “exposed archive” for the plaques/inscriptions documenting Inter and Milan’s national and international successes. .
‘Since it is also a “public archive” in addition to being a municipal property, it is legally protected according to art. 10, paragraph 2, letter b of Legislative Decree 42/2004.’
The San Siro is about to host the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, but it’s unclear how the stadium will be used in the long run.
Inter and AC Milan have rented the stadium until 2030, but could leave before then.
Milan City Council owns the stadium and will have to manage it even if they lose their two tenants.
Inter are assessing a ground in Rozzano, while their rivals are looking at land in San Donato