Unless there is another drastic change in plans, AC Milan will not build a new stadium in San Donato. However, they have another idea.
Massimiliano Mistretta – the councillor for the Municipality of San Donato Milanese – spoke to Radio Rossonera about what will happen to the San Francesco area, owned by Milan, following the news that a stadium will not be built there.
“The possibility of Milan’s stadium in the San Francesco area ended when Milan decided to purchase the San Siro area with Inter Milan to build their stadium there. We acknowledge this legitimate decision, but it is an alternative to the San Francesco proposal,” he said.
“Both Milan and we are certainly interested in developing that area with a project that has the characteristics of being of supra-local interest, of high quality, and with a sporting vocation. Milan have already presented us with alternatives in recent months, which must be followed by a concrete project proposal.”
What could it be?
On his Substack, the lawyer and author Felice Raimondo suggests a ‘calculated strategic pivot’ on the part of RedBird Capital. The new idea is to scrap the stadium project, but build the ‘largest multipurpose indoor arena in Italy’ in San Donato instead.
The Program Agreement (ADP) was the instrument required to build a stadium with approximately 70,000 seats. It was a complex process that included significant urban planning changes, new rail and road infrastructure, and a significant impact on the local area, and it officially ended yesterday.
San Donato plan vs. now
The program stems from the original ‘Sportlifecity’ project, approved between 2018 and 2019. It envisioned a project with predefined volumes, including an indoor arena seating approximately 20,000.
Gerry Cardinale has never hidden his goal of transforming Milan into a media and entertainment company. This is important context for the increasingly insistent rumours surrounding the NBA Europe project, which could enter a decisive phase by March 2026.
A 20,000–25,000-seat arena in San Donato would be an ideal asset. It could become a home for the new basketball franchise, as well as the city’s main hub for concerts and events. It would become the largest and most modern indoor arena in Italy, surpassing the Forum and the future Santa Giulia Arena.
There could also be another development in the area: the building of a new ‘citadel’ for Milan Futuro, the Women’s first team and the Youth Sector. It would be a possible upgrade therefore on the PUMA House of Football.
What is NBA Europe and why are AC Milan involved? [Bonus Article] by Rocket Sports Internet
Read on Substack
To understand the economic sustainability of such a project, one need only look at the Accor Arena in Paris, cited in the analysis by Raimondo. In its financial statements ending August 31, 2024, the company that manages the arena recorded a turnover of €83.9m, a net profit of nearly €9m.
Beyond the one-off impact of the Olympics, a structural factor is particularly striking: nearly €21m from the B2B segment (hospitality, skyboxes, corporate events), demonstrating that the true value of these facilities lies in premium use, regardless of the sport being played.
With over 100 events per year and an average of one every two or three days, an arena like this operates practically 365 days a year, often with more efficient margins than a football stadium used only occasionally.
It’s worth noting that San Donato isn’t the centre of Milan, but the direct connection via the M3 subway and train lines is a good compromise. Those traveling for an NBA game, a major concert, or an international event are primarily interested in services, convenience, and a quality experience.