From naming rights to less space: doubts justified in San Siro [Bonus Article]

There have been many twists and turns on the stadium front lately, and most fans (myself included) haven’t been able to keep up with all of them. However, one thing that has stood out is the hypothesis of a shared stadium (once again), with Milan and Inter refusing to give up on the San Siro area. While this would mean sharing the costs, there are also other consequences to consider.

Milan have been working on the San Donato project for well over a year now, first showcasing their interest months before it was officially confirmed. Around €40m was paid for the land, located in the San Francesco area, and a Program Agreement was eventually initiated as the San Donato city council approved the Rossoneri’s request. So far so good, but the road still hasn’t been without potholes.

The political war between San Donato and above all the Milano mayor Beppe Sala has never stopped and this has made the situation very difficult. For the parties to make any sort of progress with the Program Agreement, willingness is not just needed from the San Donato authorities but also from those in Milano. There are many reasons for this, such as transportation on gamedays and guaranteeing safety (through police).

Amidst all of this, the idea of sharing a new stadium with Inter has emerged once again as the politicians in Milano - some of them anyway - are starting to realise the gravity of the situation. While the Giuseppe Meazza is protected, it’s possible that the clubs could build a stadium in the same area and obtain all of the ownership rights, thus making it beneficial for them as well.

President Paolo Scaroni recently admitted in an interview that Milan are ‘evaluating’ building a new stadium next to the iconic one along with Inter. Given that €40m has been invested into the San Donato project, that remains alive as well but contacts are frequent with Beppe Sala, suggesting that a shift *might* be on the cards. So then, what are the financial benefits of building a stadium together?

While it’s obvious that the costs of the new stadium in that scenario would be shared, there are other factors that we must consider as well. From the fact that it definitely will be more expensive than San Donato to the naming rights dilemma, let’s take a look at everything we need to know.

Reading time: Around 10 minutes (2,000+ words)