After some successes, the 1943 elected president Santiago Bernabéu decided that the Estadio Chamartín was not big enough for the ambitions of the club, and thus
a new stadium was built and was inaugurated on 14 December 1947. This was the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as it is known today, although it did not acquire the present
name until 1955. The first match at the Bernabéu was played between Real Madrid and the Portuguese club Belenenses and won by Los Blancos, 3–1, the first goal being
scored by Sabino Barinaga.
The capacity has changed frequently, peaking at 120,000 after a 1953 expansion. Since then, there have been a number of reductions due to modernizations (the last
standing areas were removed in 1998–99 in response to UEFA regulations which forbids standing at matches in UEFA competitions), countered to some extent by expansions.
The latest capacity is 81,044 spectators. A plan to add a retractable roof has been announced. Real Madrid has the fourth-highest of the average attendances of European
football clubs, behind only Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Manchester United.
The Bernabéu has hosted the 1964 UEFA European Championship final, the 1982 FIFA World Cup final, the 1957, 1969 and 1980 European Cup finals and the 2010 UEFA Champions
League Final. The stadium has its own Madrid Metro station along the 10 line called Santiago Bernabéu. On 14 November 2007, the Bernabéu was upgraded to Elite
Football Stadium status by UEFA.
The Santiago Bernabéu is undergoing a facelift which will ensure that the arena continues to be a global benchmark within the worlds of sport and architecture. According
to Florentino Pérez, "The new stadium will continue to be the setting that generates the emotions which will leave their mark on Real Madrid's future. It'll be the best
stadium in the world in which to see us once again recognised at the end of the century as the best club of the 21st century. It'll offer a new stadium, heritage and be
a new source of pride for our members and fans".
The revamp makes the Santiago Bernabéu a more modern, comfortable and safe arena and see it enhanced with the addition of leisure, restaurant and entertainment areas.
Technology takes its place at the heart of the project. There is an area within the stadium devoted to e-sports, whilst the arenais fitted out with an impressive
360° scoreboard.
The redevelopment has seen the Santiago Bernabéu become a digital arena, in which technological advances and the use of audio-visual tools will be available across many
areas of the stadium. For example, fans are able to enjoy club-generated content that enhances their matchday experience on their mobile phones and tablets, in what is
known as the use of a second screen.
The museum has also undergone a massive revamp, which is centred around the Paseo de la Castellana area. The museum has been extended in size and benefits from a new
interactive section, set up in the Padre Damián area, featuring the latest virtual-reality technology. The route included within the Tour Bernabéu has also been
extended with the launch of a panoramic tour that takes visitors right the way around the stadium's outer rim.
The project will also bring about improvements to the stadium's urban setting, with a large square, of over 20,000 m², to be built on the Paseo de la Castellana, and
another measuring 5,500 m² on the corner of Padre Damián, which will see the calle Rafael Salgado become pedestrianised. There will be improvements in terms of security,
accessibility and evacuation for all supporters, given that the stadium will be equipped with more entry points. The current shopping centre is set to be demolished and
two new towers will be erected on the Castellana, complete with ramps, escalators and lifts. The movement of supporters will also be more fluid, thanks to the instalment
of new escalators along the Castellana and Padre Damián which will serve the stadium's highest points.
The shopping provision will be improved with two Real Madrid stores to be opened within the complex. The new stadium will also include the launch of a new shopping
experience with digital points of sale offering goods sold by the world's most prestigious electronic and consumer goods brands, turning the public areas into a shop
window for the planet's latest products. "The new exploitation model for the stadium will bring in an extra €150 million per season, which will mean a more constant
flow of revenue as we bid to maintain our status as on-field and financial leaders", stated Florentino Pérez.
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Capacity: 85,000 Field size: 105 m × 68 m
CONSTRUCTION Broke ground: 27 October 1944 Opened: 14 December
1947 Architect: Manuel Muñoz Monasterio, Luis Alemany Soler, Antonio Lamela
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