Who owns the San Siro and why do Inter and AC Milan play in the same stadium?

The highlight of Serie A’s Matchday Five will be the Milan Derby, with Inter taking on AC Milan.

As always, this highly anticipated clash will take place at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, more commonly known as San Siro, as both clubs share this historic venue.

But how did it come to be that two giants of Italian football share the same stadium? It’s a rare, perhaps even unique, phenomenon in modern football, and the Dailysports team is here to shed light on this fascinating arrangement.

The stadium was built in 1926 at the initiative of AC Milan’s owner, Piero Pirelli — the son of the legendary Italian engineer, entrepreneur, and politician who is known worldwide as the founder of the Pirelli Corporation.

Twenty-one years later, in 1947, Inter struck a deal with AC Milan to relocate to San Siro, as renting their own stadium had become too expensive. The two clubs shared an important connection — their city, as both hail from Milan.

AC Milan welcomed the proposal for both teams to share a stadium. However, to realize this plan, the stands needed to be expanded, and San Siro closed for reconstruction until 1955, during which its capacity was increased by 17,000 seats, bringing it to 82,000.

The decision to share San Siro also had a financial aspect. Joint use of the stadium allowed both clubs to reduce the costs associated with maintaining such a large venue. Additionally, the infrastructure, designed to accommodate tens of thousands of spectators, was considered one of the finest football facilities in Europe, further solidifying the choice to share the stadium.

However, over time, the need for separate stadiums became a growing topic of discussion. Both AC Milan and Inter have long dreamed of having their own arenas, which would not only reflect their unique identities but also generate additional revenue.

In 2019, a proposal was made to construct a new, modern stadium in Milan to replace San Siro. This ambitious project envisioned the creation of a multifunctional sports complex with expanded infrastructure, allowing each club to maintain its distinct identity within a shared space.

The plan for a new stadium was driven not only by the desire to boost commercial profits but also by the need to meet modern football industry standards. While San Siro is rightly regarded as one of the most legendary stadiums, it has become outdated by today’s arena standards, particularly in terms of spectator comfort and commercial opportunities.

However, the realization of the new stadium project has faced numerous challenges. First, there are bureaucratic hurdles, as the Milan city council and local historians are reluctant to part with a stadium that has become a symbol of the city. Secondly, the financial burden of such a project requires massive investment, and neither club is currently ready to fully shoulder the costs.

The future of San Siro and the potential new stadium remains unclear. It is quite possible that Inter and AC Milan will continue to share the same venue for several more years. However, the drive for innovation and modernization will inevitably lead both clubs to seek new solutions that will transform the city’s sporting infrastructure.