Erick Thohir has reflected on continued talks with Milan to understand their intentions on San Siro, as he remarks at how ‘owning a stadium isn’t enough’.
The Inter President has held recent talks with the Rossoneri over the Giuseppe Meazza ground, intended work ahead of hosting the 2016 Champions League Final and Milan’s intentions to build a new ground elsewhere.
For Thohir, the process of owning a stadium is necessary, but only the first to a more successful club.
Erick Thohir has reflected on continued talks with Milan to understand their intentions on San Siro, as he remarks at how ‘owning a stadium isn’t enough’.
The Inter President has held recent talks with the Rossoneri over the Giuseppe Meazza ground, intended work ahead of hosting the 2016 Champions League Final and Milan’s intentions to build a new ground elsewhere.
For Thohir, the process of owning a stadium is necessary, but only the first to a more successful club.
“In the MLS, 16 of the 20 teams have their own stadium. This is essential in order to compete with other clubs,” the Indonesian has told those attending today’s Leaders in Football conference in London.
“At Inter most of the revenue comes from other sources, such as merchandising. The stadiums are important for Italian clubs if they want to compete with Europe’s top clubs.
“They should be used all year round, not just for the games – the home for the fans must be working 365 days. But to have San Siro pay is not easy because it has a capacity of some 80,000 people.
“When they finish work on DC’s stadium, the DC United Arena, it will be used not only for football but also for events and sports such as concerts, lacrosse, soccer, hockey.
“We are talking with Milan about San Siro, we need to understand whether they will stay or leave. Both clubs, however, want to have our own stadium.
“But the fact of having your own ground is not enough. The most important fact is the business in the stadium.
“It is right to have a stadium that fans can interact digitally with the squad, send message, can easily connect to wi-fi and be involved.
“James Pallotta [sitting next to Thohir] has spoken at great length about this with the city of Rome. We are talking now with the city of Milan to try to make this happen.”