The design for the new A.C. Milan Stadium, by Arup is a revolution that might just redefine the way we perceive and approach stadium architecture. A “football stadium” is generally perceived as a huge, noticeable structure, taking up much space in the city owing to its sheer volume and used only during sporting events. The proposal for the A.C. Milan Stadium is everything but that.
Rectangular in shape, the sports arena is located at its core. This is surrounded by an urban arena along the perimeter, which holds a sports college, restaurants, a children’s playground and green areas open to the public all year round.
Designed for a capacity of 48,000, this stadium will be dug 10 meters into the ground, and go only up to a height of 30 meters, in order to decrease its impact on the city. The end result looks nothing like your everyday stadium – but much like a part of the city. Whether sports fans will be disappointed, has to be seen when the stadium becomes a reality, but stadia are now no longer looked at as ‘business machines’, in the words of Architect Emilio Faroldi. Rather they need to become a cause of its upliftment and reorganization. The focus has shifted to the user and their needs.
courtesy of Arup
An Arup parametric tool has been used to analyze sight-lines from each seat in the stadium so as to ensure the best possible view from every corner. With sustainability as a guiding principle, it is proposed to be constructed in a disused area of land near the city’s trade fair grounds that is easily approachable by public transport- in an effort to reduce traffic flow. The stadium will also sport a moveable roof to mitigate noise levels.
The design model shows blocks along the perimeter raised above the ground. Roof top gardens can be seen on the four corner blocks. An L-shaped block extends above one corner of the urban arena- adorned with the words ‘#We are ac Milan’ in the team’s colors – red and black, and the same can be seen across the front of the stadium.
courtesy of Arup
By: Sahiba Gulati
Sahiba Gulati is a former assistant editor at Arch2O and current Assistant Professor at the Balwant Sheth School of Architecture in Mumbai. Her academic and editorial work is deeply rooted in researching gender and public space, exploring how built environments shape—and are shaped by—social identities and power dynamics. With experience in both publishing and academia, Sahiba brings a critical, nuanced perspective to Arch2O’s discourse on inclusive urban design, spatial equity, and the role of architecture in public life .