The new 71,500-capacity stadium will become the shared home of the two Milan clubs, with Generali securing naming rights for 20 years. Construction is expected to begin next spring, with the venue scheduled to open ahead of Euro 2032.
Inter and AC Milan’s new stadium will be called Generali Stadium, marking a major new chapter for one of European football’s most iconic venues.
The announcement was made during a presentation at Milan’s Sforza Castle, where architects Lord Norman Foster and David Manica unveiled plans for the project. Generali is expected to hold the stadium’s naming rights for 20 years. Although the financial details have not been officially confirmed, the agreement is reportedly worth around €600 million over the period.
The new 71,500-seat venue will be built on land adjacent to the existing San Siro stadium. The overall development, including the surrounding areas, is expected to cost approximately €2.3 billion.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2027, with the stadium expected to open in the early months of the 2031-32 season. The timetable is designed to make the venue available for Euro 2032, which Italy will co-host with Türkiye. Its scale could make it a candidate to host the tournament’s final, although competition for the match is expected to be strong.
A new design inspired by San Siro
The stadium’s exterior will feature 80 large prefabricated concrete diamond-shaped structures, designed to reflect the architectural character of the existing San Siro while giving the new venue a distinct identity.
Each section will incorporate triangular Teflon membranes illuminated in either red and black or blue and black, depending on whether AC Milan or Inter is playing at home. The lighting will underline the unusual arrangement of two major clubs sharing the same stadium.
The project has been designed by Foster and Manica, whose previous work together includes the new Wembley Stadium in London.
“San Siro is a feeling,” Manica said, acknowledging the emotional attachment supporters have to the existing ground. The transition is likely to be difficult for some fans, as well as residents living in the surrounding neighbourhood, who face several years of construction-related disruption.
The developers say the project will also regenerate the wider area and incorporate soundproofing measures to reduce the impact on nearby residents. The acoustic design is intended to benefit not only football matches but also concerts and other major events.
Steep stands and a Dortmund-inspired atmosphere
The two ends of the stadium are expected to become one of its defining features. Both will have steep stands with a 37-degree incline, designed to create an intense atmosphere inspired by the famous Yellow Wall at Borussia Dortmund’s stadium.
“The stands will be the soul of the stadium,” Foster said.
The seating bowl will be arranged across two tiers on a raised podium. The roof will not be retractable but will contribute to the stadium’s energy supply. The entirely electric venue is expected to feature 27,000 square metres of photovoltaic panels.
The development will also include extensive premium facilities, with as many as 13,000 VIP and hospitality seats. Restaurants inside the stadium are expected to provide around 1,600 seats.
More comfort, but potentially higher ticket prices
The new venue promises significant improvements in facilities and accessibility compared with the existing San Siro. Food outlets will be distributed throughout the stadium, while the number and standard of toilets will be upgraded.
Supporters with disabilities will have access to all sections, with lifts and escalators available across multiple levels.
One unusual feature will be seating overlooking the glass tunnel through which players emerge before entering the pitch, offering spectators a close-up view of the teams arriving on the field.
The improved facilities and premium offering could also push ticket prices higher. International visitors already account for around 40 per cent of tickets sold outside season-ticket allocations, with many willing to pay more for major matches. The Milan derby, for example, is expected to attract supporters from 118 different nationalities.
The press area will be located in the upper rows of the stadium, in an enclosed and covered section.
For supporters concerned about losing the atmosphere of the old San Siro, the steep stands are intended to ensure that the noise from the two ends remains a defining feature of the new ground.
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