San Siro, officially named Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Milan, Italy. It is used mostly for association football matches, hosting the home games of Italian clubs AC Milan and Internazionale, the latter being its owner.
Opened on 19 September 1926 with a friendly match between Milan and Inter, it replaced the original Campo di Via Paleocapa, which had a capacity of 35,000 seats. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 80,018. The stadium was designed by architect Ulisse Stacchini and engineer Alberto Cugini, and had a construction cost of approximately 5 million lire.
A UEFA category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in Europe (the biggest in Italy), San Siro hosted several matches of the 1934 FIFA World Cup, including its opening match, as well as the 2001 and 2016 finals of the UEFA Champions League. It was also the venue for the 2016 UEFA Europa League Final. By its ninetieth birthday, San Siro had welcomed over 130 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2028 UEFA European Football Championship, which Italy is bidding to host.
San Siro, officially known as 'Stadio Giuseppe Meazza', is a significant football arena located in Milan, Italy. Both the original and current stadia are commonly referred to by their unofficial name, San Siro. The name San Siro comes from the district where the stadium was constructed, on the edge of Milan's city center. The district itself is named after the Church of San Siro, a significant religious landmark in the area. This informal name was established shortly after the construction of the original stadium; the locals of Milan simply referred to it as San Siro. As a result, the stadium's common name became 'San Siro', which is also recognized internationally. However, it should be noted that in 1980, the stadium was officially renamed Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in honor of the two-time World Cup winner who played for both Inter Milan and AC Milan, the two clubs that call the stadium home. Although officially called the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, it is still widely referred to as San Siro, especially by the international community and the fans of AC Milan. Inter Milan fans, on the other hand, prefer to use the official name in honor of their former player. The stadium has a rich history and has hosted numerous significant events, including World Cup matches, Champions League finals, and concerts of world-renowned artists. Despite controversies over its name, there is no denying the iconic status of San Siro in the world of football.
An ideal location, with excellent accessibility and ample space for potential enlargement, was pinpointed in the San Siro district of Milan. Because it is situated on the border between San Siro and Milan, the new stadium was initially referred to as 'Stadio San Siro'.
It was always the club's ambition to possess both the stadium and the land, however, initially, a lease was drawn up on the municipal land, with a final purchase only taking place in 1935. The plans for the sports complex were drafted as early as the late 1920s by Piero Pirelli, the then-president of AC Milan.
Under the leadership of the club's president, Piero Pirelli, the members dealt with a heightened fee to support the construction costs of the new stadium, made substantial contributions, and some even went so far as to volunteer their labor on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'cement campaign', where large amounts of cement bags were donated to the club.
The construction officially began on 13 December 1925. Less than three years later, and at a cost of 5 million Lire, on 19 September 1926, a 35,000-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rivals Inter Milan.
The stadium underwent a major renovation for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, which saw the addition of a third tier. Today, the San Siro is recognized as one of the iconic football stadiums in the world, hosting numerous high-profile matches and events annually. It has a seating capacity of 75,923, making it the largest stadium in Italy and one of the largest in Europe.
San Siro is not just a football stadium but also a symbol of Milan and Italy's rich footballing history. It is also home to a museum that showcases the history of both AC Milan and Inter Milan, making it a must-visit for football fans around the world.
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (1926): Information about the stadium's history and construction, as documented by A.C. Milan. acmilan.com
San Siro (La Scala del Calcio) – until 2003: Comprehensive details about the San Siro stadium until 2003. stadiumdb.com
San Siro non si spegne, Prefácio, Prime Books, 2003: An in-depth look at the significance and legacy of the San Siro stadium. primebooks.com
A.C. Milan 100 gloriosi anni - La Storia 1, Edizione e Contenuti, S.A., 2003: A historical account of A.C. Milan and its home ground, the San Siro stadium. acmilan.com
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