Iconic San Siro to be demolished as Milan giants set to build new stadium

San Siro, one of football’s most iconic stadiums and home to Italian giants AC Milan and rivals Inter, is set to be demolished it has been announced.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the AC Milan chairman Paolo Scaroni confirmed that the two clubs have agreed to replace the historic old Giuseppe Meazza Stadium with a brand new state-of-the-art arena close to the same site.

"Everything is proceeding.” Scaroni said from Lausanne. “We will make a new San Siro together in the same area.

“The old ground will come down and in its place there will be a new one.”

The Milan chief was in Switzerland ahead of the IOC announcement confirming the venue for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Milan, in a joint bid with Cortina d’Ampezzo, successfully landed the games ahead of Stockholm and Scaroni believes this will be factored into the stadium plans.

"It is a very complicated procedure.,” He added. “It would be nice if the Olympics opening ceremony was there.”

The club had long planned to move out of their old home for pastures new, while Inter had favoured staying and renovating the old ground.

However, it would appear as though both club are in agreement over building a new shared home.

Built in 1926, the ground was initially home to AC Milan until they were joined by their rivals in 1947.

Inter won the second of their three European Cups/Champions League titles on home turf against Benfica when the final was hosted at the ground in 1965.

San Siro hosted three more finals in 1970, 2001 and 2016.

In 1980, the stadium was renamed after legendary Italian striker Guiseppe Meazza who represented both clubs as well as the national side.

When Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990, eventual winners West Germany played all their group matches as well as their last-16 and quarter-final matches at the stadium.

The stadium’s most distinctive feature is the concrete towers, built ahead of Italia 90, that surround the exterior of the arena, propping up the extended roof and doubling up as staircases for fans.

The two clubs submitted plans for a new £625m joint-project, with a the stadium set to be operational by 2022.

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