First images released of 71,000-seater replacement for iconic European football stadium

AC Milan and Inter Milan unveiled designs for a 71,500-seat replacement stadium to replace the historic San Siro, with construction expected to begin in 2028.

AC Milan and Inter Milan revealed joint proposals for a new stadium at Milan's Castello Sforzesco on Thursday, paving the way for the demolition of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, commonly known as San Siro. The new venue, named Generali Stadium after Italy's largest insurance firm, will feature a striking oval design with 80 diamond-shaped frames and a sweeping double-curved roof.

Designed by Foster + Partners and Manica, the 71,500-seat stadium will be raised on a podium with parking, a museum, and club stores underneath. The two-tier bowl design prioritizes the "curvas" — the sections behind the goals where hardcore fans sit — with seating inclined up to 37 degrees to amplify atmosphere. Acoustic engineering will capture and intensify crowd energy while minimizing external noise disturbance.

The clubs aim to have the new stadium ready for Italy's co-hosting of the 2032 European Championship with Turkey. Construction is expected to begin in 2028, though the original timeline of 2024-2025 was delayed by public debate and bureaucratic hurdles. Inter supporters protested the plans, unfurling banners reading "you will never extinguish the lights at San Siro."