Well, it is certainly quite a new idea for the beautiful game of football, but Serie A now has a new taste of influence from the United States world of basketball.
AC Milan have installed new seating between the dug outs at the San Siro Stadium with the hopes of replicating an ‘NBA experience’ for fans. The Italian side stated that the plan was to offer a chosen few their ‘closest ever’ view and experience of the pitch, and the idea had been highly influenced by the courtside seats that are offered in basketball courts. Benefits of these seats include the fact that they are padded and there is a private concierge, and they were open for the first time during Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League defeat by Serie A rivals AS Roma.
Italian rappers Ghali and Blanco were among the first guests for the new experience that it being offered, and naturally it follows the NBA tradition where pop stars and celebrities get the presumed best seats in the house – ie it’s a public relations stunt and a commercial boost that really has very little to do with fans at their core.
The idea itself is not entirely new to European football as a whole as Manchester City offer a ‘Tunnel Club’ experience at their Etihad Stadium, wherein paying fans can watch the players make their way to the field of play through a glass tunnel whilst enjoying corporate hospitality on both sides of the entrance.
As similar such moves become a new corporate fan experience offering from all clubs looking for an uplift in their finances, we can certainly plenty of others to follow as they redevelop their own stadium areas, but certainly in the case of AC Milan fans, they will have to act quickly if they want to taste this particular new San Siro experience.
As fans know, the Rossoneri are heavily investigating their options of leaving their home since 1926, and they have already officially announced their intention to depart the San Siro for a new (fully club owned, and not shared) south of the city site in the very near future that will hold a 70,000 capacity.
This is allied to the fact that rivals, but fellow San Siro tenants, Inter have also announced their own intention to build a new stadium elsewhere in the very near future as well.
It will be the end of a very long and established history, and as far as rivalries go, sharing and respecting a ground for many will count for more than separating.
