City of Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala touched on Inter and AC Milan’s projects and the San Siro in an interview in today’s paper edition of the Milano based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
Sala revealed he expected the public to be against the demolishment of the San Siro.
“Yes, I expected it, but certainly there is no need to sing victory. Victory will be when both sides are happy. It seems to me that looking for a solution that allows San Siro not to be knocked down is something shared by most of the citizens. This is the most important result of your survey.”
He then touched on an early conversation between him and the clubs when they first proposed the projects.
“When they said to me, ‘Aren’t you happy? We put in €1.2 billion and will give a lot of work’. I answered yes, as long as you build things that the city needs. To date, 12-13 billion dollars of real estate investments have already been allocated to Milan and we don’t need to take everything we can get. We can direct and manage the investments. And I understand perfectly the companies that aim to increase stadium revenues, but I still have a doubt. Is it about a stadium or a real estate transaction that goes far beyond the stadium?”
The Mayor spoke about the imposed space limits that the clubs must follow.
“I have to treat football teams no better or worse than any other real estate operator. Our Territorial Governance Plan foresees an index of 0.35 plus the accessory functions. That said, with the 0.35 we offer 90,000 cubic metres, to which we can add all the volumes for other purposes, such as the auditorium space that is part of the public service. We have other land in the area: besides the commercial, which is more useful to residents, want a hotel? You can do it 400 meters away. My firm belief is that what we offer is not insignificant at all and allows us to build a lot.”
Sala understood the confusion about the proposed term of “re-functionalising” the existing San Siro.
“I recognise that the term ‘re-functionalisation’ is not clear. In fact, I ask if there is the possibility, supported by economics of common sense, of transforming the current San Siro into a smaller stadium, keeping for example only the first ring. The growth of women’s football, the attention of fans to youth, can create the need for a ‘civic arena’. Useful for teams that today are forced to play outside the city. What I don’t know, and I asked the clubs, is whether in terms of investment it’s crazy or manageable. We haven’t studied it. The real question is: how much money does it take to bring San Siro back to sustainable management? That’s a question that maybe not even companies can answer.”
He didn’t think that it would cost too much to both re-functionalise the San Siro and build a new stadium.
“Here’s another point to talk about. The Metropolitan Wanda cost €270 million, the project for the Roma stadium, which I think is a super-stadium, is €350 million. I wonder if we can do something more contained, maintaining a second arena dedicated to sport. In Milan we are looking for development, but sustainable development, and things well done. I have doubts. I say: let’s discuss it.”
Sala wasn’t worried about the Milanese clubs’ plan to move their project to the Sesto San Giovanni area of Milan.
“I can only think that if they went to Sesto it would be something extremely wrong, but then they decide. The Chinese ownership of Inter, which have made a long-term investment, would go down in history to be the one that after a hundred years has moved the stadium of the Nerazzurri to Sesto. But if the clubs tell me that they give them everything there, there is little to do. I would extend my arms in the face of a decision that I cannot prevent. Let’s face it: the transfer to Sesto would be a problem for both sides.”
Finally, Sala spoke about the next steps for the clubs and the City Council.
“The Fine Arts will give their opinion when they see the project. The current opinion is a preliminary one that is difficult to give without a final project. First, we have to talk to the clubs. If they don’t even want to consider the possibility of renovating the Meazza, let them tell us. I won’t be happy and I’m keeping the problem of San Siro. But let’s see a project together. If it’s madness from an economic-financial point of view, I don’t want anyone to do something mad. The first point is to take a couple of months to do such a check. Then later times can be shortened, especially since my majority has already given a sign to follow my line. If you go from talks between lawyers to talks between technicians, you can find solutions. This is such an important issue that I am prepared to sit down at the table myself. To talk not with the letters, but by looking at each other.”
