Inter Milan and AC Milan to work on stadium project together

It would seem Inter Milan and AC Milan are going in together to determine the next move for the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan.

The clubs are working in tandem to determine whether it is more appropriate to renovate the San Siro or build a new stadium entirely. But, it appears whatever the decision, it will be done jointly.

”We launched a project related to San Siro with Inter and I have the honor of having made this U-turn, opening a project together. Unlike Rome, where Lazio and Roma hate each other, in Milan, it is not like that. We launched into the stadium project ourselves, I am convinced we will have the best stadium in the world,” AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni said, as reported by Calciomercato.

AS Roma was recently given approval to construct a new stadium of its own that could include additional development around the stadium.

Scaroni added that they have not presented anything yet and that both options come with pros and cons. He said that “maybe building a new one could be easier, we will know more in the coming months.”

Inter co-CEO Andrea Antonello said there are challenges with renovating the Meazza, but they will look at all options regarding a stadium.

“Today we are thinking about a common project that will have to guarantee a stadium that lives up to the others in other European cities. We want a quality project and will involve top-level advisers. For the future, we imagine a smaller capacity, seeing as the stadium is filled only 5-6 times per year. It will be smaller but more efficient,” Antonello said.

For the record, according to a report published by the18.com, Inter Milan drew the highest average attendance in all of Serie A last season – averaging more than 57,000 per match – more than double the average Serie A attendance of 24,784. Inter’s average attendance was more than that of Paris Saint-Germain, Guangzhou Evergrande, Tigres UANL and the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball League – all teams with the highest average attendance in their respective leagues last season.

Oh, an just to put a finer point on that, Inter’s average attendance last season was higher than the Bundesliga’s average as well as the average attendance for: Major League Soccer, the Bundesliga, the Premier League, La Liga and Ligue 1.

If a new stadium is to be the answer, then it will come down to where to build it. It would have to be somewhat neutral in location, but Milan is not necessarily teeming with available space. Of course, renovating the Meazza would be no small undertaking either as there is very little space to build out.

Earlier, Scaroni had suggested the two teams were more in favor of building a new stadium, but they have reversed course … kind of.

“I am representing the owners, who invested a great deal of money, and dealing with important elements like the new Milan stadium,” Scaroni told reporters at a youth Christmas party in Milan.

The fact that the two teams have decided to work together is great for the project.

And, if a new stadium is the direction, let’s hope it is a much smoother process than that of Roma’s.

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