Inter Milan President Raises Concerns Over Bureaucratic Delays for New Stadium

On Friday, Giuseppe Marotta, the president of Inter Milan, expressed apprehension regarding the potential delays caused by sluggish Italian bureaucracy, which may affect the anticipated completion date of the new San Siro stadium in 2030.

Inter and AC Milan finalized their acquisition of the 99-year-old San Siro stadium and its surrounding area from the city on Wednesday. This financing deal paves the way for the Serie A clubs to demolish the existing structure and collaboratively construct a new arena with a seating capacity of 71,500.

The objective is to have the new stadium operational in time for Italy’s co-hosting of the 2032 European Championship alongside Turkey. “It is clear that our goal is to have the stadium ready well before Euro 2032 commences, allowing us to utilize the venue during the championship,” Marotta remarked to reporters at the Football Business Forum in Milan.

Marotta highlighted the challenges posed by the Italian bureaucratic process, stating, “We hope this can all be accomplished, but we are confronted with a typically sluggish Italian bureaucracy. I am optimistic about completing the project by 2030.”

During the forum, Marotta further criticized the inefficiencies of Italian bureaucracy, noting, “Over the past 15 years, 50 stadiums have been constructed across Europe with an investment of approximately €20 billion. In contrast, only three stadiums have been modernized in Italy; we are significantly lagging behind.”

He questioned the underlying issues, suggesting that financial constraints were not the principal challenge, but rather the prolonged bureaucratic processes in Italy.

Both Milan clubs are currently owned by American firms—AC Milan by RedBird and Inter Milan by Oaktree. “Consider that two of the most prominent clubs in Italy are foreign-owned,” Marotta pointed out. “This indicates that the Italian system struggles to support elite sports.”

The clubs have already formed partnerships with architectural firms Foster + Partners and Manica to design the new stadium, which is set to be part of an expansive project covering over 3 million square feet.

The agreement to purchase San Siro was valued at €197 million ($226 million), with Milan president Paolo Scaroni stating that the clubs plan to invest over €1 billion in the stadium’s construction.

It is estimated that both clubs could generate yearly revenues of up to €180 million ($208 million) from the new venue, more than double their current earnings of around €80 million ($93 million) each. This increased revenue is expected to stem from attracting tourists to non-match day activities such as museum visits and stadium tours, as well as hosting concerts and other events, and potentially selling naming rights for the new arena.

Scaroni emphasized the ambition behind the project, stating, “Our goal is to create the best stadium in Europe, as Milan is one of the football capitals of Europe and deserves an exceptional infrastructure. We envision a facility that remains lively every day.

“Currently, if you visit San Siro, it can be quite eerie due to the lack of activity outside match days. We aim to develop a vibrant space with restaurants, hotels, and commercial activities, all set to be realized in Milan by 2030.”