Milan and Inter's shared new stadium is not expected to open until at least 2031, with the project still facing administrative and legal obstacles despite small preparatory works already under way at San Siro.
The centenary of the old ground arrives with the replacement still existing largely on paper. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the concept is already seven years old, dating back to the original "Cathedral" design by Populous in 2019, yet the clubs have not broken ground on the actual build.
Physical changes at San Siro have begun in modest fashion. The historic south ticket office was demolished in June, and the west side of the stadium has been remodelled to prepare the site. Further incremental alterations are planned over the coming years, but these are preliminary steps rather than construction of the new venue itself.
The remaining obstacles are well defined. The implementation plan still requires approval from the Municipality of Milan, and a criminal investigation into alleged bid-rigging connected to the project has yet to be finalised. Both processes sit outside the clubs' direct control and carry no guaranteed timeline.
If the 2031 target is met, the new stadium will have taken 12 years from the moment Populous first presented its design to the day supporters walk through the gates. Milan and Inter spent much of that period weighing separate sites before settling on a redeveloped San Siro, a decision driven largely by the financial logic of sharing costs and the impracticality of going it alone.
The direction of travel looks settled, but the distance still to cover is considerable, and neither the council chamber nor the courtroom works to a football calendar.