Wanda Metropolitano, officially named Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Madrid, Spain. It is used mostly for association football matches, hosting the home games of Spanish club Atlético Madrid, its owner.
Opened on 16 September 2017 with a La Liga match between Atlético Madrid and Málaga CF, it replaced the Vicente Calderón Stadium, which had 54,907 seats. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 68,456. The stadium was designed by Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos and had a construction cost of €240 million.
A UEFA category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in Europe (the third biggest in Spain), Wanda Metropolitano hosted several matches of the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League, including its final, as well as the 2019 Copa del Rey Final. It was elected the Stadium of the Year in 2018 by StadiumDB.com. By its third birthday, Estadio Wanda Metropolitano had welcomed more than 4 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Spain aims to co-host along with Portugal.
While the previous Atlético Madrid stadium was also officially named 'Estadio Vicente Calderón', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Wanda Metropolitano. Metropolitano is the name of the neighborhood the stadium was built on, on the outskirts of Madrid, which itself derives its name from the original Estadio Metropolitano that Atlético Madrid used to play in. This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of Madrid used to simply call it Metropolitano ('Metropolitan'). Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Wanda Metropolitano', which is usually anglicized to 'Wanda Metropolitan Stadium'. This translation, however, could be argued to be inaccurate, since Metropolitano refers not to 'metropolitan' but to the original name of the stadium: Estadio Metropolitano ('Metropolitan Stadium'). The Wanda part of the name comes from the Wanda Group, a Chinese multinational conglomerate and Atlético Madrid’s main sponsor at the time of the stadium's construction.
The Wanda Metropolitano is a symbol of Atlético Madrid's growth and ambition. The stadium, which was inaugurated on 16 September 2017, is a state-of-the-art facility that provides an unforgettable experience for the fans. With a seating capacity of 68,456, it is the third-largest stadium in Spain, after Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabéu. The stadium's design pays homage to Atlético Madrid's rich history while also looking towards the future. The seating area is covered by a futuristic roof, which not only protects fans from the elements but also contributes to an incredible atmosphere during matches.
The Wanda Metropolitano also boasts a number of modern amenities, including a museum dedicated to Atlético Madrid's history, a fan zone, and numerous food and beverage options. The stadium also has a number of environmentally friendly features, such as solar panels and a rainwater collection system. The Wanda Metropolitano is not just a football stadium; it is a symbol of Atlético Madrid's commitment to its fans and to the environment.
A suitable location, with excellent connectivity and ample scope for future expansion, was pinpointed at the eastern end of the Rosas neighborhood. The new stadium, situated on the cusp of Rosas and Canillejas neighborhoods, initially got recognized as 'Estadio de Canillejas'.
The club's goal was always to possess both the stadium and the surrounding land, though initially, a lease was arranged for the municipal land, with a final purchase only happening in 2017. The blueprints for the sports complex were first drafted in the late 2000s by Cruz y Ortiz, a renowned Spanish architectural firm.
Under the leadership of the club's president, Enrique Cerezo, the members dealt with a heightened fee to cover the construction costs of the new stadium, made substantial donations, and some even chose to work on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'brick campaign', where large quantities of bricks were donated to the club.
The construction officially commenced on 17 February 2014. Less than three years later, and at a cost of 310 million euros, on 16 September 2017 (a significant day for the club), a crowd of 68,000 spectators filled the stadium for the inaugural match against Malaga CF.
Atlético Madrid Official Archive: Detailed history of the construction and usage of Wanda Metropolitano, Atlético Madrid's home ground. https://www.atleticomadrid.com/en/history
StadiumDB: Comprehensive information about Wanda Metropolitano including its design, capacity, and significant events it hosted. https://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/esp/la_peineta
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