Real Madrid's new stadium will be 'a Colosseum' says architect ahead of summer construction

Redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, the iconic home of Spanish football club Real Madrid, looks set to begin in the summer.

Tristan Lopez Chicheri, managing partner at architecture firm L35, which is working on the €400m (US$429.5, £344.7m) project, confirmed the timescale in an interview with Spanish sports newspaper Marca. He revealed work will take place during off-season periods to reduce disruption to the club’s sporting schedule, with the project taking about three years to complete.

The stadium, designed by GMP Architekten, Ribas & Ribas and L35, was approved by the local council in October 2016 | Credit: Real Madrid

"The project is complex because it will not stop the football, and that therefore complicates the work and design,” he said. “They have to add a [retractable] roof that encloses the whole stadium.

“ We want to make the Santiago Bernabeu the best stadium in the world. Our commitment is to continue increasing the heritage of our club, thus gain in economic strength, so we can continue to lead in an environment of increasing competition. We believe in a project that will enhance our image, brand and city that we also feel proud of.”

Current President Florentino Perez

“They’re going to lift the roof like the Romans did with the Colosseum, but with modern technology. This summer, they will raise the roof’s inner ring using hydraulic jacks, bridge technology and ski lifts.”

Image: Realmadrid.com

The stadium, which has also been designed by German studio GMP Architekten and Spanish partner Ribas & Ribas, was approved by the local council in October 2016. When complete, it will have a capacity of 90,000 – almost 5,000 more than the current amount.

Real Madrid, which is the reigning European champion, wants the stadium to become a city attraction, even on non-match days. As with the New Nou Camp – the ground being redeveloped by arch rival FC Barcelona – it will look to boost commercial activities and bring new life to the city through its leisure offerings.

“There are venues like the Bernabeu that are in the middle of the city and it is a shame that they have no life beyond 35-40 matches a year," Chicheri told Marca. “The stadium will have improved seats, boxes, matchday zones. But it will also have more restaurants and a hotel and shopping centre."

Key facts

Club: Real Madrid CF | Opening: 1947 | Capacity: 85,454 seats

History and description

In the early parts of the 20th century, Real Madrid first played at Campo De O’Donnell, and then moved to the larger Campo de Chamartín in 1924.

In 1943, Chamartin had already become too small again, and club-president Santiago Bernabéu decided that Madrid needed a new and modern 100,000-stadium.

This new stadium got built at the same site of Campo de Chamartín. Construction began in 1945, and on the 14th of December 1947 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu officially opened with a match against Portuguese champions OS Belenenses (3-1).

The stadium was initially still called Nuevo Estadio Chamartin, but received the name of the club-president eight years later.

At that time, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu consisted of two uncovered tiers that could hold just over 75,000 spectators. Capacity was further increased to 125,000 in 1954, when one of the long sides got expanded with a third tier.

The Bernabéu was together with Camp Nou playing venue of the Euro 1964 Championships, hosting one of the two semi-finals and the final between Spain and the Soviet Union (2-1).

Towards the end of the 1970s, the stadium had already started to age, and club officials started making plans to build a new stadium in the north of the city.

However, with the perspective of the 1982 World Cup it was instead decided to renovate the Bernabéu, which included the construction of a roof over the three two-tiered stands and the installation of seats in half of the stadium. As a result, capacity was reduced to 90,800 places.

During the 1986 World Cup, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu hosted three matches in the second group stage and the final between Italy and West Germany (3-1).

In the 1990s, UEFA required the stadium to become an all-seater, which would have reduced capacity to 50,000 seats. Club president Mendoza therefore started an extensive redevelopment program that included extending the third tier over the entire stadium, the creation of corporate facilities, and four access towers in each corner of the stadium. Works started in 1992 and were completed two years later.

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu got further refurbished an upgraded between 2001 and 2006. Works most of all focused on improving corporate facilities, and were concluded in 2006 with the construction of a roof over the one remaining uncovered stand.

In its history, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu has hosted four European Cup and Champions League finals. The first final was in 1957 between Real Madrid and Fiorentina (2-0), the second in 1969 between AC Milan and Ajax (4-1), the third in 1980 between Nottingham Forest and Hamburg (1-0), and the last one in 2010 between Internazionale and Bayern Munich (2-0).

Real Madrid recently presented plans to further upgrade the stadium with commercial and corporate facilities, and to increase capacity to over 90,000 seats. Four architects have been asked to present designs, of which the final one will be chosen later in 2013. The club hopes to conclude the works in 2015 or 2016.

Getting there

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is located in central Madrid on the Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid’s principal avenues. The stadium lies about 4 kilometres north of the Plaza de Cibeles, where the Paseo de la Castellana originates. It is a similar distance from Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid’s main squares.

The stadium is best reached by metro line 10. Stop Santiago Bernabéu lies right next to the stadium. In the centre, line 10 can be caught at Plaza de España or Tribunales, but can otherwise be reached with a transfer (e.g. line 1 from Puerta del Sol or Atocha train station).

From Atocha, Paseo del Prado, or Plaza de Cibeles one can also take bus 14 or 27 to get to the stadium. Take bus 14 in the direction of Avenida Pio XII. It passes the stadium on the Paseo La Habana. Take bus 27 in the direction of Plaza de Castilla, and get off at Plaza Lima, right in front of the stadium.

From metro station Callao in the city centre, one can take bus 147. Take the bus in the direction of Barrio del Pilar and get off at Plaza Lima.

From Puerta del Sol one can take bus 150 in the direction of Colonia Virgen del Cortijo. Again, get off at Plaza Lima.

Address: Avenida de Concha Espina 1, Madrid

Eat, drink, and sleep

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is located on the large tree-lined Paseo de la Castellana avenue, one of Madrid’s principal arteries. The area around the stadium is a mix of mostly offices, shops, and residential buildings, but there are enough bars and cafés mixed in to find something to eat or drink.

La Esquina del Bernabéu is a shopping centre built directly adjacent to the stadium and offers a small food court and some fast food outlets. A little further south is a branch of the El Corte Inglés department store chain.

The number of bars and restaurants increase while you walk south in the direction of Madrid’s centre. Most nightlife is located in the northern parts of the centre.

There are a fair few hotels near Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The Holiday Inn Madrid, AC Hotel Aitana, and Rafaelhoteles Orense are closest, get good reviews, but are far from cheap.

Only slightly further away are Espahotel Plaza Basílica, Hotel Gran Atlanta, Hostal Falfes, Hostal Los Ángeles, and Sunotel Amaral. They get good reviews, are all close to several metro stations, are reasonably priced between €50.00 and €100.00 per night, and no further than 20 minutes walking from the Bernabéu.

Click here for an overview of all hotels near Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. If you prefer to stay in the city centre, these are your options.

Tickets

Tickets for Real Madrid games can be bought online, by phone +34 902 32 43 24, or at the ticket windows (taquillas) of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

Tickets that are bought online can be picked up at the ServiCaixa cash points in the city or at the stadium.

Regular tickets tend to go on sale in the week before the match, though VIP tickets are available earlier. There is generally not much reason to buy a VIP ticket as Real Madrid only sell out a few high-profile matches per season and tickets for most matches are easily available if bought in advance.

Ticket prices can depend on the opponent, but they typically range in price from €20.00 for an upper-tier seat behind the goal or in the corners to €120.00 for a lower tier seat at the main stand.

Attendances

Stadium tours

Real Madrid offer self-guided stadium tours, during which you follow a route through the stadium. The route includes the dugouts, presidential box, press room, changing rooms, players’ tunnel and trophy room, and ends in the club shop.

The stadium is opened Mondays to Saturdays from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Sundays and public holidays from 10:30 am to 6:30 am. On matchdays the tour is open until 5 hours before kickoff (though with limited access).

No reservations are required, though the tour can be booked online. Entrance costs €19.00.

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