AC Milan’s plans to construct their own stadium have taken a blow as residents from around the new arena’s proposed site have begun a campaign against the development.
Around 350 citizens from Milan’s Zone 8 met in the parish hall of the church of Saint Idelfonso on Wednesday evening to protest against the stadium which the Rossoneri had hoped would be available to host matches for the start of the 2018-19 season.
According to Tuttosport the residents have set up a committee under the banner of “No Stadium on our Doorstep” and this group has the backing of the Citroen employees union who believe that the proposed site should be used by the municipal authorities to develop skilled industry rather than the construction of a sporting arena and retail outlets.
The committee outlined an 11 point objection to the new stadium which relate mainly to its central position in the city. There are also fears over public order and a devaluation of property in the area. The group have begun collecting signatures from local residents and believe they can count on the support of the local council.
“In England they have stadiums in the middle of the city but those were built a century ago and the city has grown around them,” committee member Alda Damiani told Tuttosport. “Here they want to construct a stadium based on those in much smaller cities such as Bilbao or Basel and its only 1800 meters from the San Siro.”
The proposed stadium would have a capacity of 48,000 spectators and would be built in the Portello neighbourhood of Milan.
