Italian football is set for a major transformation as AC Milan and Inter Milan prepare to leave the iconic San Siro and move into a modern stadium built through a joint initiative. The project marks a significant moment for both clubs, whose histories have been closely connected with one of the most recognisable football venues in Europe.
The new stadium, named the Generali Stadium, is expected to accommodate 71,500 spectators. The two Milan-based rivals are aiming to begin playing their home matches there from the 2031-32 season, provided construction and the necessary approval processes are completed on schedule.
AC Milan and Inter Milan jointly announced the stadium’s name and architectural design in a statement. The project has been designed by renowned architectural firms Foster + Partners and Manica. The proposed venue is intended to reflect the changing demands of modern football, with an emphasis on contemporary architecture, spectator facilities and the commercial potential of a major sporting destination.
Italian insurance company Generali has secured the stadium’s naming rights. According to ESPN, the agreement is worth €650 million over a period of 20 years, equivalent to approximately Tk 8,991 crore. The deal is regarded as one of the largest stadium naming-rights agreements in global sport, highlighting the growing commercial importance of football infrastructure.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028, subject to the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities. If the project progresses according to the proposed timetable, the clubs expect to stage their first matches at the new venue during the 2031-32 campaign.
The development will also bring an end to the long association between the two clubs and San Siro, which is scheduled to be demolished as part of the wider redevelopment plan. Opened in 1926, the historic ground has served as the shared home of AC Milan and Inter Milan for generations.
Over the decades, San Siro has witnessed some of Italian football’s most memorable occasions, including domestic league encounters, European fixtures and historic celebrations. Its distinctive atmosphere has made it a landmark for football supporters, not only in Italy but around the world.
The stadium holds particular significance for the Milan derby, the fiercely contested fixture between the city’s two leading clubs. The rivalry has developed into one of the most celebrated in world football, with San Siro providing the setting for countless dramatic encounters. Generations of supporters have associated the ground with unforgettable goals, victories and moments of intense emotion.
Leaving such a venue will inevitably carry emotional significance for both sets of supporters. However, the demands of modern football have changed considerably. Leading clubs increasingly require stadiums that offer improved facilities for spectators, greater commercial opportunities and infrastructure capable of supporting a wide range of activities beyond football matches.
The Generali Stadium project reflects the ambition of AC Milan and Inter Milan to respond to those changing expectations while investing jointly in their long-term future. Its 71,500-seat capacity will also ensure that the new ground remains a major venue for large-scale football occasions.
Although the proposed move will close an important chapter in the history of Milanese football, it will also open another. If the construction schedule remains on track, the 2031-32 season will mark the beginning of a new era for the two rivals, as they exchange the historic surroundings of San Siro for a modern home of their own.
