AC Milan and Inter Milan's stadium project originated in 2019, with the new stadium expected to be completed in 2032. Much has transpired since then, and La Gazzetta dello Sport has reviewed the key milestones.

Repairs here and there, moving tons of gravel, and shifting some infrastructure a few meters. In recent months, San Siro has gradually begun its long transformation to eventually wear its new outfit. Or rather, its best outfit. For now, only details are being discussed. In June, the historic South Ticket Office was demolished, taking with it memories of long queues, lively discussions, and countless supporters. The entrance area on the stadium's west side has also been reconfigured, with some entrances removed and some of the iconic giant canopy umbrellas dismantled, along with the metal "umbrellas" that sheltered fans from rain. This was done to create more space for the future super-construction site, where the new stadium will be built. The old and new San Siro will stand side by side temporarily until the landscape of this area completely transforms. What about the timeline? Renderings of the new stadium are expected to be officially released in late October—completion in 2032 with 71,500 seats and a value of €2.149 billion—and to meet the construction schedule, work must begin in the second half of 2027.

It is still difficult to truly imagine the new San Siro, but the winding road to get here is clearly visible. Obstacles are far from over: the implementation plan must first be approved by the Milan city government, then submitted to the regional government for review of technical and economic feasibility. Additionally, legal troubles still loom. In the coming weeks, the courts will decide on appeals filed by various committees, and a criminal investigation into irregularities in the bidding process is still ongoing. Nevertheless, the two AC Milan giants have come a long way since the idea of a new stadium began to take shape. The path of the two clubs has been uneven: sometimes together, sometimes apart; they remained watchful of each other as ownership changed hands several times; they tried alternative plans, only to eventually realize the project could only truly be realized if they reunited. Economic pressure was the inevitable reason for this cooperation.

If the project is finally completed in 2032, 13 years will have passed since the symbolic "first stone" moment. This refers to July 2019, when AC Milan and Inter Milan unveiled their new stadium plans. The famous "Cathedral" designed by Populous was originally supposed to be completed this year. This cannot be understated, as the entire process of advancing the new San Siro has always had one constant—time has stretched indefinitely. The "Cathedral" is under construction, and the Meazza is being demolished. This is correct, as the non-negotiable condition set by both clubs has always been to demolish the existing stadium, except for some areas protected by the Cultural Heritage Superintendent, including the tower and part of the South Stand: renovation costs were too high, and it would not even be feasible to operate after decommissioning. In October 2019, the Milan city government gave its approval, but with 16 conditions, including reducing concrete use and preserving parts of the Meazza structure. In early 2023, the paths of the Rossoneri and Nerazzurri seemed to diverge: AC Milan considered San Donato, while Inter Milan targeted Rozzano-Assago, mainly because AC Milan had proposed an alternative that seemed quite viable. AC Milan purchased land and actively communicated with the San Donato city government, paving the way for independent action, no longer dependent on their "city rivals." However, beneath a series of administrative procedures that progressed step by step, the core idea never disappeared. It was Plan A—San Siro, of course.

In September 2024, Mayor Sala announced: AC Milan and Inter Milan would not renovate San Siro. This important decision seemed to everyone like a deliberately paved path to keep both clubs working together and remaining in the city. In March of the following year, both clubs submitted feasibility documents to city hall. This thick material revealed the complete picture of the new stadium project. In those months, time truly became pressing, and Sala's concerns heightened. Even the possibility of "selling the entire area to AC Milan and Inter Milan" was proposed. This was the driving force that compelled the clubs to truly envision a shared future—not far from the Meazza. Meanwhile, due to the city's urban planning survey, the mayor postponed the sale discussions until September 2025. This was a race against time: on November 10, the second tier of the Meazza stands would trigger the protection restrictions of the famous historic building, at which point the stadium could not be demolished. Ultimately, this race was won: the documents for the sale and transfer of the stadium area were signed on November 5, at a transaction price of €197 million, which was the valuation determined by the Italian tax authority in July, a figure that was later checked and confirmed. This cornerstone allowed the entire process to continue, despite constant appeals and extremely tight deadlines. Meanwhile, the Meazza still stands calmly, continuing to witness the activity that will continue for years to come. But in front of the West Stand, the view is destined to change. Some tons of gravel are not enough to show how much more will change here by 2032.

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