Inter and Milan reveal Generali Stadium plans to replace San Siro

Inter and Milan unveiled plans for a new Generali Stadium at a gala at Milan’s Castello Sforzesco on Thursday, saying the venue will replace the shared San Siro from the 2031-32 season. The clubs announced the stadium will have a 71,500-seat capacity and the project is expected to cost €1.2 billion (£1bn).

The stadium will be sponsored by Generali, described in the presentation as Italy’s largest insurance company, and work is scheduled to begin in 2028 on the site of the existing 75,000-capacity venue. Shortly before the briefing began a group of Inter fans walked into the courtyard of the castle, unfurled a banner reading "you will never extinguish the lights at San Siro," and chanted "hands off San Siro."

Architect Norman Foster said the new ground will be shaped "low in the body, and rises up at either end" behind the goals. David Manica, a stadium specialist who collaborated with Foster on the project, said the steep-sided design aims to bring fans as close to the pitch as possible.

Manica added: "The most important thing that we realised when we designed this project is that San Siro is a feeling," Manica said. "It’s more than a building, it’s a feeling … we brought all the seats as close as possible to the field. They could not be any closer, it’ll actually feel as though you’re sitting on the grass."

Milan and Inter paid €197 million (£165m) to acquire the current San Siro stadium and its adjacent parking arenas, and the clubs said the existing ground will be largely demolished once construction work nears completion. The new stadium will also be capable of hosting NFL international games, rugby matches and concerts.

San Siro, also known as the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, opened in 1926 and is the largest sports stadium in Italy; it is considered to be one of European football’s most iconic venues but requires extensive modernisation despite undergoing a number of renovations. Foster and Manica previously worked together on the new Wembley Stadium, and Foster’s Foster + Partners firm also designed plans for Manchester United’s proposed new 100,000-capacity home.

The Generali Stadium could be used as a venue for Euro 2032, which is being jointly hosted by Italy and Turkey. Additional reporting from Associated Press.