AC Milan and Inter Unveil Plans for Generali Stadium

Generali Stadium Design Unveiled for AC Milan and Inter

AC Milan and Inter have unveiled formal plans for the Generali Stadium, a joint venture designed to replace the historic San Siro from the 2031-32 season, The Guardian reported. The shared venue will feature a capacity of 71,500 seats and carry an estimated construction cost of €1.2bn (£1bn). Backed by separate US investment firms owning the two clubs, the project addresses decades of discussions regarding the deterioration of the existing arena and its lack of modern matchday infrastructure.

The design, presented at a gala event at Milan’s Castello Sforzesco, comes from architecture studio Foster + Partners alongside stadium specialist Manica. According to architect Norman Foster, the structure will be shaped low in the body and rise up behind the goals. David Manica noted that the steep-sided configuration is engineered to bring spectators as close to the pitch as possible.

Generali Secures Record Stadium Naming Rights Deal

Italian insurance giant Generali Group has secured a 20-year naming rights agreement for the venue, valued at $725 million (€650 million), according to figures cited by Sportico.com. AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale described the arrangement to BBC Sport as the largest stadium naming-rights deal in global sports history. Cardinale emphasized that the primary economic driver centers on transforming the clubs’ financial models through matchday revenue, premium hospitality, and year-round entertainment opportunities.

The financial scale of the Generali agreement eclipses other Italian benchmarks. While Atalanta receives €2.4 million annually from New Balance for its Bergamo stadium and Udinese collects €1 million yearly from Bluenergy, the joint arrangement delivers roughly €13 million per season to each Milanese club. Juventus, by comparison, maintains a ten-year agreement with Allianz worth €103.1 million, which also includes training kit sponsorship.

Demolition of San Siro Faces Supporter Opposition

The transition to the new facility involves the eventual tearing down of the existing San Siro, also known as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, which opened in 1926 and celebrated its centenary year. Inter and Milan acquired the current stadium and surrounding land for €197m in 2025. Construction on the Generali Stadium is scheduled to begin in 2028 on the current site, with completion targeted for 2031.

The proposal has drawn resistance from portions of the fanbase. Shortly before the official briefing, a group of Inter supporters entered the Castello Sforzesco courtyard carrying a banner reading “You will never extinguish the lights at San Siro” and chanting “Hands off San Siro.”

Timeline for Construction and Tournament Integration

The project schedule maps out key milestones leading up to the 2031-32 season debut:

• 2025: Clubs complete the purchase of San Siro and surrounding land for €197m.
• 2028: Construction work is set to begin on the current venue footprint.
• 2031: The 71,500-seat Generali Stadium is expected to open.
• 2031-32 Season: The venue becomes the official shared home for AC Milan and Inter.

Beyond Serie A fixtures, the venue is engineered to host NFL international series games, rugby matches, and major concert tours. The arena is also positioned as a potential host venue for Euro 2032, which is scheduled to be jointly hosted by Italy and Turkey.

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