AC Milan and Inter have announced the signing of an agreement with Foster + Partners and Manica. If the Milan City Council approves the sale of San Siro and the surrounding land, these two studios will be responsible for designing the new stadium for both clubs.

New stadium on horizon

The venue is planned as part of a large-scale urban redevelopment covering 281,000 square meters. Its final capacity will be 71,500 seats. The project foresees two large tiers of stands with slopes designed to ensure optimal visibility from every spot. The new stadium will also offer affordable seating options.

Collaboration with Foster + Partners, one of the world’s most renowned architectural firms, and MANICA, already recognized as a leader in sports facilities, confirms the clubs’ strong commitment to delivering a stadium that meets the highest standards of innovation, comfort and sustainability, while standing out as an architectural landmark, the Milan clubs emphasized in their joint statement.

The entire project depends on the city’s decision. On September 25, the council will begin discussions on the resolution regarding the sale of San Siro and its surrounding areas. The vote is expected on September 29. The timetable is tight - the clubs’ offer expires on September 30. In addition, on November 11 a historic and cultural restriction concerning the second tier of the stadium will come into force, which would prevent demolition. The sale price of San Siro and the surrounding land has been set at €197 million.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

Architectural guarantee of quality

Foster + Partners, led by Norman Foster, is one of the most respected architectural firms in the world. The practice is behind such projects as Apple Park in Cupertino, airports in Hong Kong and Beijing, the Millennium Bridge in London, as well as the masterplan for the Wembley district. In Milan, it has worked on urban projects such as Milano Sesto and flagship Apple stores.

The second partner is Manica, founded by David Manica in 2007. The studio specializes in sports venues and has designed projects such as Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It is currently working on Miami Freedom Park - the future home of Inter Miami. David Manica has collaborated with Foster for nearly thirty years - together they worked on the new Wembley project and on the winning bid for Lusail Stadium in Qatar, built for the 2022 World Cup.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak