Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

The recently restored ancient 'Sports Palace' is on sale starting from 14,2 million euros. Tasca: “The public interest functions remain unchanged in the announcement. With the tender the long-awaited relaunch of a vital space for the city"

Milan, October 24 2019 - The former "Pavilion 3" of the Milan Fair, already known as the "Sports Palace", will be auctioned using the auction mechanism. The prestigious structure, built in 1923 and recently restored, is owned by the Municipality and is located within the new City Life district. The 20 thousand square meter space is arranged on four levels and will be sold starting from a starting price of 14,2 million euros.

“The sale of the former Pavilion 3 of the Fair is another important step in the process for the valorisation of the real estate assets to finance interventions in the city area and in particular the suburbs”. This was stated by the Councilor for State Property, Roberto Tasca, who adds: "The route of sale through public auction is the most correct and transparent way to stimulate the market, respect the rules of competition and at the same time economically enhance an asset, guaranteeing a mix of functions of public interest, safeguarding the original volumes and structures and relaunching a symbolic space for the city".

The building is in fact subjected to historical constraints by the Superintendency, which has indicated the future possibilities of use included in the tender:  activities of public interest (cultural, exhibition, sporting and commercial up to 2.550 square meters of sales area) which they must however be subjected to prior approval by the Superintendency itself.

Participants must submit the economic offer in a sealed envelope by 12pm on 16 December 2019. All offers above the starting price of 14,2 million euros will be accepted. Subsequently, on 18 December, the auction will take place in a public session through the auction mechanism. We will start from the highest offer with raises of no less than 200 thousand euros every three minutes.

The former "Pavilion 3" of the Fair was restored in 2017 by the company Citylife S.p.A. as a deduction for secondary urbanization costs and is still in the custody of the same Company.

Milan knows “Pavilion 3” with the name “Palazzo dello sport”. Built in 1923 based on a design by the architect Paolo Vietti Violi, a well-known designer of sports facilities, it was conceived to host large indoor sporting events. Over the years it has also been used as a venue for shows and as an exhibition pavilion for the Milan Trade Fair.

In 1946, following the bombings which also injured the city centre, the "Palazzo dello Sport" hosted the first summer season of the Teatro della Scala. Among the emblematic elements of the building are the dome made of iron and the elliptical design of the central part, surrounded by a sequence of reinforced concrete columns.

The recent conservative restoration has highlighted the different facades of the original building. In particular, the decorative elements in late "Art Nouveau" taste stand out, where the external windows and doors are essential elements for the compositional balance of the property.