Cardinale Plans 20,000-Seat NBA Arena in Milan

AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has confirmed plans to build a 20,000-seat arena in the municipality of San Donato. Speaking to La Repubblica, the 59-year-old Cardinale said the arena is approaching the groundbreaking stage. He stated that his aim is to establish a permanent NBA team in Milan.

Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners, wants to bring football and basketball together under the NBA umbrella. He sees the entertainment sector as a key force that will grow the global brand of AC Milan.

The NBA Europe league is planned to start in the 2027/28 winter season. According to the draft, a 16-team tournament with 12 permanent members will be held, and Milan is a standout candidate among those members. The remaining 4 spots will be determined on merit from a season-end tournament linked to the Basketball Champions League and the continent's national leagues.

Talks between the NBA and EuroLeague are at a critical stage, and a clear gap still remains between the two sides. It appears the NBA is ready to proceed independently if necessary. If the parties fail to find common ground, there is a serious risk of a split in European basketball.