So the new San Siro is happening. Construction kicks off after 2026/27, and they want it done by 2031, just in time for EURO 2032. Capacity? 71,500, with over 13,000 'premium' seats. That's a lot of fancy seats. And a lot of regular fans probably getting priced out.
Is 71k with 13k premium seats a slap in the face?
Look, I get it. Stadiums are expensive. Clubs need revenue. But 13,000 premium seats out of 71,500? That's almost a fifth of the stadium. And you know what that means: regular tickets will get more expensive because demand will still be high. The average attendance for Inter back in the day was around 40-45k, and they only filled it against the big boys. So maybe a smaller stadium makes sense. But filling it with corporate seats? That's not for the fans who stand in the Curva.
I've sat in premium before. It's nice, but it's not life-changing. You get a padded seat and access to a bar that doesn't look like a nuclear bunker. The price? Maybe 25% more than the concrete step I usually sit on. And the club makes a killing on food and drink because people actually show up early to hang out there. It's smart business. But it also means the atmosphere might suffer. Half the stadium won't be singing; they'll be sipping prosecco.
Why does everyone keep talking about the bathrooms?
Because they're horrific. I went to a Milan game once and saw a guy just peeing on the stairs. The bathrooms? I can't even describe them. Let's just say you don't want to touch anything. The new stadium can't come soon enough for that alone. Accessibility is a joke too. To get to my seat, I had to climb what felt like 10 flights of stairs. If you're elderly or disabled, good luck. The place is literally falling apart. You can see the game fine, but everything else is a nightmare.
Some people bring up Delle Alpi as a warning. That stadium was terrible – you couldn't see anything from many seats. But San Siro isn't like that. The views are great. It's just everything else that's crumbling. So a new stadium is needed. But does it have to be so premium-heavy?
Will the new stadium actually be better for real fans?
That's the big question. The club says all the right things about fan experience, but money talks. If they can sell 13,000 premium seats, they will. And those seats will be filled by people who can afford it, not the die-hards who've been going for decades. I'm not saying premium is evil. It's an easy way to make extra cash, and clubs like Villa and Sunderland do it too. But when it's 18% of the stadium, it changes the vibe.
Also, the new stadium will be smaller. 71,500 vs the current 75,000+. That's not a huge drop, but it's a drop. And with more premium seats, the number of regular seats is even lower. So getting tickets will be harder. And more expensive. That's just math.
What about the atmosphere?
San Siro is famous for its atmosphere, especially during derbies. The Curva Sud and Curva Nord are legendary. If you replace thousands of regular fans with tourists and corporates, does that kill the noise? Maybe not entirely, but it'll change. I've been to games where the corporate sections are dead silent. They're there for the networking, not the football. That's fine, but it's not what makes San Siro special.
I hope the new design keeps the soul of the place. But I'm skeptical. Clubs talk about 'fan experience' but they mean 'fan spending'. The new San Siro will be nicer, safer, and more comfortable. But it might also be less wild. And that's a trade-off I'm not sure I'm ready for.
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