✍️ Rohit Singh

🗓️ July 4, 2024

The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of the historic Real Madrid CF, one of the most competitive and successful clubs in the history of football, is undergoing a historic renovation that will sideline the venue to a marvel of sports architecture and technology. The two most impressive additions in the Bernabéu transformation are the retractable roof and disappearing stadium pitch.

Stay with this piece for a few minutes, and we will portray the Santiago Bernabéu from every angle, covering different elements that made it the football icon of the world.

The $1 billion Santiago Bernabéu project

The highly anticipated Santiago Bernabéu project has been completed, and its official unveiling took place on March 6, 2024, coinciding with Madrid’s 122nd anniversary. This project cost a hefty amount passing over $1 billion.

The stadium facade is enveloped in new curved stainless steel, giving a sculptural and dynamic appearance to the venue. 9,000 tons of steel have been incorporated to create the novel roof structure, with an astounding retractable roof that moves gracefully, uncovering the Madrid night sky blinking with stars.

Another engineering marvel is the lush green pitch that is stowed beneath the stands during non-football events. In less than one hour, the pitch is moved underground within a specially designed structure known as the hypogeum, where proper irrigation and ultraviolet lighting preserve the grass quality.

Additionally, the 480-square-meter LED video board installed makes it the largest in any European stadium. This monumental video board enhances the fan experience by providing better visibility and delivering vibrant graphics, taking stadium entertainment to unprecedented heights.

The journey to becoming a sporting temple

The historical journey tracks back to 1943 when Santiago Bernabéu assumed the presidency of Real Madrid. Despite financial troubles, the stadium witnessed its first spectator on December 14, 1947, and with subsequent development efforts, the stadium increased its capacity and improved its overall infrastructure.

The historic Bernabéu Stadium is a symbol of excellence in the football world, hosting countless memorable matches. With its new renovations, the stadium can accommodate around 85,000 fans, solidifying its position as one of the largest stadiums in Europe. The designers have perfectly taken care of the spectators’ entertainment and visual experience from every angle.

This idea of making the Bernabéu Stadium a better place has nearly doubled the revenue, anticipated to be €300 million by 2024, that would further boost the club’s financial status quo. 

Besides football, the other business ventures available are

The Bernabéu also has a purpose beyond football. The versatile venue is capable of holding cultural events, conferences, and concerts, addressing the entertainment aspect and thus making it a lucrative endeavor.

The redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabéu blends the passion for football with transforming football into a tourism-based business venture. For example, the upgraded museum will illustrate Real Madrid’s history, increasing global outreach and fanbase, thereby creating more sponsorship and partnership opportunities. The master project also unleashes the potential for enhanced merchandise sales, bolstering income from club souvenirs, apparel, and memorabilia brands. Furthermore, Real Madrid is such a big name that businesses are ready to pay premium prices to be associated with them.

In addition to traditional game day fare, the renovated Bernabéu will have fancy restaurants and bars that will operate all week, catering to football enthusiasts. The complex also has a dedicated esports arena, two towers, a new shopping center, and multiple Real Madrid stores.

Get the chance to visit the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with us

ISM GLOBE has managed to secure one of the biggest international collaborations in the Indian education sector. ISM GLOBE has joined hands with the esteemed Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid Universidad Europea (Real Madrid Graduate School – European University).

ISM GLOBE and EURM offer an exchange program where students gain knowledge and skills from both institutions, particularly in the business and technology aspects. Through this program, students also get a chance to visit Spain where we focus on enriching their global exposure by taking them to the Real Madrid training centers, and most importantly, the football temple, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, so that they can live and breathe football.

Want to make a career in sports?

Advance your journey in sports management with an industry-focused program offered by Mumbai-based ISM GLOBE. The institute has a Postgraduate Program in Sports Management and Technology, focusing on practical skills to help you land in the rapidly growing sports world. Enroll now and make a career in what you love.