Architects confirmed for new San Siro

Article posted by Coliseum, September 26^th, 2025

Image: San Siro Stadium, Jose Luis Hidalgo R., CC BY 2.0

AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano have picked architectural firms Foster + Partners and MANICA to design their new stadium in Milan, Italy.

AC Milan said if the resolution for the sale of their current San Siro home is approved by the Milan City Council, the two firms would be responsible for designing the new Milan stadium.

The San Siro Stadium (also known as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) is a football stadium in the San Siro district of Milan, Italy. It has a seating capacity of 80,018 making it the largest stadium in Italy and one of the largest stadiums in Europe. It is the home stadium of the Serie A teams AC Milan and Inter Milan.

The two clubs said the collaboration with Foster + Partners, one of the most renowned architectural firms globally, and MANICA, already recognised as a leader in the field of sports venues, reaffirms their strong commitment to delivering a stadium that meets the highest standards of innovation, comfort, and sustainability, and will also stand out as an architectural landmark.

The new venue, part of an urban regeneration project covering approximately 281,000 square meters and focused on innovation and sustainability, will have a capacity of 71,500 seats and will offer an unparalleled atmosphere.

It will feature two large tiers with an incline designed to ensure optimal visibility from every section. It will also meet the highest accessibility standards, providing dedicated experiences for all fans and offering sections with affordable pricing.

Foster + Partners is one of the world’s leading firms in sustainable architecture, urbanism, engineering, and design.

Founded by Lord Norman Foster in 1967, the practice has designed iconic projects such as Apple Park in Cupertino, the airports in Hong Kong and Beijing, the Millennium Bridge in London, as well as two flagship Apple stores in Rome and Milan.

It was responsible for the masterplan for the Wembley Stadium precinct, which has transformed the area into a successful mixed-use district with shops, restaurants, and thousands of new homes.

The practice has also worked on several large-scale masterplans in Milan including Milano Sesto.

MANICA, established by David Manica in 2007, is recognised as a top-tier firm in the sports venue sector. The firm has designed internationally acclaimed infrastructures such as Allegiant Stadium and Chase Center, home to the Las Vegas Raiders and Golden State Warriors.

MANICA is also responsible for the design of the upcoming transformative stadium project that will host the Chicago Bears and the Miami Freedom Park, the future home of Inter Miami CF.

David Manica has a personal working relationship with Norman Foster and his company that dates back almost 30 years to the design of the New Wembley Stadium in London and also includes the Lusail Stadium winning bid for the World Cup 2024 in Qatar.

This significant step in the development of the future stadium represents a strategic investment for the future and a tangible sign of commitment to the city of Milan, its history, and its cultural, architectural, and sporting heritage.

The start of activities, including the initial concept design and preliminary project phases, will be subject to the completion of the acquisition of the Great Urban Function San Siro by the Clubs.

Populous won an earlier contest to replace the San Siro in 2021, beating a consortium comprising Manica and Italian firm Sportium. But its proposal, known as ‘the Cathedral’, was scrapped following delays to the new-build scheme and the threat of a heritage listing for the San Siro.

Both teams then went on to investigate stadium projects of their own. Inter Milan continued working with Populous on a project to build a 70,000-seat stadium in Rozzano in south-west Milan. AC Milan was meanwhile thought to have considered the San Donato area for its own rival proposal.

But, earlier this year, it emerged that both sides had come together again on a joint stadium development and in May, the clubs presented proposals to the city of Milan to purchase the San Siro stadium and the surrounding area to allow development work to begin.

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