Sgarbi threatens state protection for San Siro stadium

Italian undersecretary for culture Vittorio Sgarbi has entered the heated debate over the future of Milan's Giuseppe Meazza stadium (San Siro) with an open letter to Corriere della Sera, threatening to impose a state heritage protection order that would prevent its demolition. Sgarbi cites a July 27, 2020 unanimous decision by the technical-scientific committees of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage recognizing the stadium's 'strongly symbolic value for the city of Milan' and recommending a protection process. He criticizes the Superintendence for failing to act on that recommendation and accuses the ministry of favoring economic interests over the city's history. The debate pits Milan and Inter, who want a new stadium designed by Populous (the 'Cattedrale'), against neighborhood committees and preservationists who advocate renovation. A public debate held September-November 2022 was criticized as insufficient. Sgarbi's intervention could push the clubs to build elsewhere, such as Sesto San Giovanni, leaving Milan with an empty, unmaintainable structure.