Italian rivals AC and Inter Milan have confirmed their shared vision for a smaller, modern stadium as the two clubs seek a long-term solution to the problems presented by their current home, the San Siro, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.
At the announcement of the Serie A clubs' partnership with meat processing business Fratelli Beretta, Alessandro Antonello, Inter's chief executive, and Milan president Paolo Scaroni elaborated on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) they signed in November regarding stadium modernisation.
Antonello said the two clubs would work together on either modernising the San Siro or building a new stadium, outlining a plan to potentially reduce the capacity from 80,000 to 60,000 but with the aim to improve the matchday experience for supporters.
"Managing the stadium means almost managing a Champions League final every week," Antonello told reporters.
"There are architectural limitations. We want a quality project and are involved with top-level advisors. We've presented ideas and we have to develop the project.
"We envisage a smaller capacity because the average attendance of the two clubs is 60,000. What matters is the experience for the fans, it might be a smaller stadium but an excellent one.
"The challenge for the clubs is to attract the fans to go to the stadium and stay there, to spend the day."
Scaroni hinted that a new infrastructure project might be easier than updating the 93-year-old San Siro.
"We'll have the most beautiful stadium in the world," Scaroni said.
"We haven't presented a project yet, only planning. There isn't only the stadium, there are also other things to address.
"We've presented an overall proposal, the two hypotheses being a new stadium or the modernisation of San Siro.
"We want Milan to have a great stadium and make Milan the capital of football. Perhaps a new stadium would be easier, but there are also large-scale renovations like Anfield.
Adding: "At the Bernabeu [home of Real Madrid] there are seven restaurants, open day and night. The only one [in Italy] which has done this recently is Juventus."
