AC Milan has cleared a "major hurdle" in its plans to build a new stadium after its bid to acquire the city's former trade fair grounds "was approved by the foundation which owns the land," according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. Milan, which currently shares the aging municipal San Siro stadium with rival Inter Milan, is planning to build a 48,000-capacity arena in time for the '18-19 campaign. AC Milan VP Barbara Berlusconi said, "It is the first historic step. The decision of the Fondazione Fiera Milano (Milan Fairs Foundation) is the start of the path which, in our intention, will lead to a new stadium." Berlusconi predicted that the stadium would bring in between €50M ($55M) and €80M ($88.6M) a year in extra revenue. She said, "It will completely change the mentality of those who go to the stadium, offering services and entertainment not only for the 90 minutes of the game" (REUTERS, 7/8). GOAL's Joe Wright reported the Fondazione Fiera has "at last given the all-clear to the
Rossoneri to allow them to take over the Portello area of the city,"
right next to the club's modernized Casa Milan HQ, where it plans
to construct a new arena. Berlusconi: "This is still an historic day. Ours is foremost a cultural challenge.
It is for Milan that we are proposing an urban stadium, to favor the
development of the area that will play host to us, to make it more
secure and a symbol for the city" (GOAL, 7/7).
MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH: ESPN's Sumeet Paul reported although clearance is still required from the council, "this was the major breakthrough" the club needed. The new stadium will "certainly have a positive effect on how the club is perceived and it will ensure a more secure and enjoyable experience that isn't limited to watching the game" (ESPN, 7/8).
