Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, officially named Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Madrid, Spain. It is used mostly for association football matches, hosting the home games of Spanish club Real Madrid, its owner.
Opened on 14 December 1947 with a match between Real Madrid and Portuguese club Belenenses, it replaced the original Campo de Chamartin, which had 22,500 seats. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 81,044. The stadium was designed by architects Luis Alemany Soler and Manuel Muñoz Monasterio and had a construction cost of 288.342 million pesetas.
A UEFA category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in Europe (the biggest in Spain), Santiago Bernabeu Stadium hosted several matches of the UEFA Euro 1964, including its final, as well as the finals of the UEFA Champions League in 1957, 1969, 1980, 2010, and 2020. It was elected the most beautiful stadium of Europe in a 2014 online poll by L'Équipe. By its seventieth birthday, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu had welcomed more than 81 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Spain will co-host along with Portugal and Morocco.
Although the official name of the stadium is 'Santiago Bernabéu Stadium', it is commonly referred to as Estadio Santiago Bernabéu or simply Bernabéu. The stadium is located in the neighborhood of Chamartín, which is situated in the northern part of Madrid. The name of the stadium comes from the legendary Real Madrid president, Santiago Bernabéu. During his presidency, which lasted for 35 years from 1943 to 1978, he transformed Real Madrid into one of the top football clubs in the world. One of his most significant contributions to the club was the construction of their new stadium, which was completed in 1947. Even though the stadium was initially called the 'New Chamartín Stadium', it was renamed as the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in 1955 in honor of the club president.
Apart from its use for football matches, the stadium has also witnessed numerous historical events. It has hosted several major international football tournaments including the 1964 European Nations' Cup and the 1982 FIFA World Cup. It was also the venue for the 1957, 1969 and 1980 European Cup finals and more recently, the 2010 UEFA Champions League final.
In 2001, the stadium was categorized as an elite stadium by the UEFA, and it is one of the world's most prestigious football venues. It has a seating capacity of over 81,000 spectators, making it the second-largest stadium in Spain and the largest in the Community of Madrid. Also, the Santiago Bernabéu is one of the world's highest-grossing stadiums in terms of ticket sales. Over the years, the stadium has undergone several renovations to meet the standards of modern football and to improve the spectators’ experience. The most recent renovation plan aims to transform the Santiago Bernabéu into the best stadium in the world, with state-of-the-art facilities and a retractable roof.
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, named after the former Real Madrid player and president, Santiago Bernabéu, is situated in the Chamartín district of Madrid. It is an iconic symbol of footballing history and is renowned across the globe for its impressive structure and facilities.
The objective of the club was to possess a stadium of their own, and this was realized when the groundbreaking ceremony took place on 27 October 1944. The initial plans for the stadium were drafted by architects Manuel Muñoz Monasterio and Luis Alemany Soler, with the club's president, Santiago Bernabéu, providing the vision and drive for the project.
Inaugurated on 14 December 1947, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium originally had a seating capacity of 75,145, with 27,645 of these being covered seating. However, with further expansions and renovations, the stadium now has a seating capacity of 81,044, making it one of the largest stadiums in Europe.
The construction of the stadium was funded by the club members themselves, who purchased shares in the club to raise the necessary funds. This financial model was innovative for its time and demonstrated the commitment of the club's members to the project.
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium underwent major renovations in the 1980s and 2001, adding an electronic scoreboard, new lighting, and a roof covering the stadium's perimeter. The stadium also boasts state-of-the-art facilities including a retractable roof, a heating system, and extensive hospitality and media facilities.
More recently, in 2014, an ambitious project to remodel the stadium was launched, with the aim of transforming the Santiago Bernabéu into a global icon of modern architecture. With the addition of a retractable roof, a 360-degree video scoreboard, and a new exterior façade, the stadium is expected to become a groundbreaking sporting venue that sets new standards in fan experience, comfort, and security.
Throughout its history, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium has hosted numerous prestigious events, including the European Cup/Champions League finals, World Cup matches, and concerts of international artists. Its significance extends beyond football, symbolizing the passion, dedication, and success that characterize Real Madrid.
'Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (1947)': This is an official reference from Real Madrid C.F, providing information about the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. https://www.realmadrid.com
'Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (El Coliseo Blanco) – until 2003': This reference provides historical data about the stadium until 2003. http://www.stadiumdb.com
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