Inter and Milan unveil Generali Stadium, the new home set to replace San Siro in 2031

Inter Milan and AC Milan have officially unveiled the Generali Stadium project, the shared venue that will take the place of San Siro from the 2031-32 campaign. The new ground, sponsored by Generali —Italy's largest insurance company—, will hold 71,500 spectators and carry an estimated price tag of €1.2 billion. The presentation took place on Thursday at Milan's Castello Sforzesco, where a group of Inter supporters voiced their opposition to the demolition of the historic Giuseppe Meazza stadium.

• The Generali Stadium will open in 2031-32 with 71,500 seats and an estimated cost of €1.2 billion.
• Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 on the site of the current San Siro, which will be largely demolished.
• The design by Norman Foster and David Manica brings stands as close to the pitch as possible to preserve the old ground's atmosphere.
• A group of Inter fans unfurled a banner at the event reading "you will never extinguish the lights at San Siro."
• The stadium will be able to host NFL international games, rugby matches and concerts.

Inside the design of the Generali Stadium

The new venue will have a capacity of 71,500, slightly below the 75,000 of the current San Siro. The project bears the signature of architect Norman Foster and stadium specialist David Manica, who previously worked together on the new Wembley. The structure is low in the main body and rises up at either end behind the goals, a configuration designed to bring fans as close to the action as possible.

Manica said during the event that the starting point of the design was preserving the essence of the old ground. "The most important thing that we realised when we designed this project is that San Siro is a feeling," he stated. "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."

Inter fans stage protest at the unveiling event

The presentation did not go unchallenged. Shortly before the briefing began, a group of Inter fans walked into the castle courtyard and unfurled a banner reading "you will never extinguish the lights at San Siro," while chanting slogans such as "hands off San Siro." The protest underscores the opposition among part of the support to tearing down a ground steeped in history.

The future of the current Giuseppe Meazza stadium

Inter and Milan paid €197 million to acquire the existing San Siro and its adjacent parking areas. Once construction of the new stadium nears completion, the historic ground will be largely demolished. Opened in 1926 and also known as the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, it remains the largest sports venue in Italy and is regarded as one of European football's most iconic arenas, though it requires extensive modernisation despite a series of renovations over the years.

Construction timeline and potential uses for the new ground

Building work is set to start in 2028 on the land currently occupied by San Siro. The Generali Stadium will not only host Inter and Milan matches: its design allows for NFL international fixtures, rugby games and concerts. The venue is also among the options to serve as a host stadium for Euro 2032, which Italy and Turkey will co-host.

The Foster + Partners architecture firm, responsible for the project alongside Manica, has a strong track record in major sports venues: in addition to the new Wembley, it has designed Manchester United's proposed 100,000-capacity stadium.