Inter Milan Owner Erick Thohir Says Owning A Stadium Is Not Enough

Inter Milan Owner Erick Thohir "held recent talks" with AC Milan over the San Siro ground, intended work ahead of hosting the 2016 Champions League Final and Milan’s intentions to build a new ground elsewhere, according to FOOTBALL ITALIA. For Thohir, "the process of owning a stadium is necessary, but only the first to a more successful club." At the Leaders in Football conference in London, Thohir said, "In the MLS, 16 of the 20 teams have their own stadium. This is essential in order to compete with other clubs. At Inter most of the revenue comes from other sources, such as merchandising. The stadiums are important for Italian clubs if they want to compete with Europe’s top clubs. ... We are talking with Milan about San Siro, we need to understand whether they will stay or leave. Both clubs, however, want to have our own stadium. But the fact of having your own ground is not enough. The most important fact is the business in the stadium" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 10/9).