Real Madrid stadium upgrade: Santiago Bernabeu gets €800m facelift

A Real Madrid stadium upgrade recently took place, with renovation work beginning in 2019 before finishing in 2024. The focus of the redevelopment was to add a new retractable roof, boost the capacity and to modernise the facilities in and out of the ground.

Since the work was completed, the stadium has been lauded by many as the greatest football stadium in the game due to its combination of historical significance and modern technology.

For all the key information on the project, we have you covered below.

The history of the Santiago Bernabeu

Home to Real Madrid since 1947 and named after their legendary president, Santiago Bernabeu, the stadium is the second largest football stadium in Spain, with a current capacity of 83,168.

It has held the European Cup final on four occasions in its history, firstly in 1957, then in 1969 while once again hosting it again in 1980 and finally in 2010. It has also hosted a European Championship Final (1964) and a World Cup Final (1982), making it the first stadium to do so.

Real Madrid stadium upgrade

The following enhancements have been made to the Bernabeu:

• A wrap-around façade and steel stripes that light up when projected with images.
• A retractable roof, meaning fans are no longer subject to the elements, like rain, wind, or snow.
• An extra 7,000 seats, boosting the overall capacity to 85,000.
• An upgraded security and evacuation system.
• More accessible entry points
• The installation of escalators.

Real Madrid museum expansion

The museum at the Santiago Bernabeu was also expanded, meaning that fans can now experience the history of the club in an even better way than before. A new interactive section that uses virtual reality is a new highlight, and this can be found in the Paseo de la Castellana area.

Shopping experience enhanced

Two new Real Madrid stores have also been built, and they utilise the latest technology in-store. With technology at the forefront of the new stadium, shopping experiences have been enhanced. Digital points of sale allow fans to shop for their favourite brands, with a wide array of items on offer from phones to clothes.

Real Madrid stadium upgrade completion date

The Real Madrid stadium upgrade work started back in 2019 and was due to be concluded in 2022. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing delays, fans had to wait until the 2023/24 season to see the finished article.

The new capacity will allow it to have 85,000 spectators at each game. This will make it one of the largest stadia in Europe, with more fans being able to attend games to watch Los Blancos’ in La Liga.

?✨ Santiago Bernabéu ? pic.twitter.com/zjhJCiiy9q

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 2, 2023

According to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, the final cost of the renovation is around €800m, with the club getting a loan out, meaning they have 35 years to pay it back at €29.3 million a year, with a 2.5 interest rate.

Real Madrid stadium upgrade timeline

• 1944: Santiago Bernabeu, the former Spanish footballer, and Rafael Salgado get funds to acquire land for a stadium.
• 1947: The stadium was inaugurated.
• 1955: The stadium saw its first major reconstruction, increasing capacity to 125,000.
• 1955: General Assembly of Members Compromisaros named the stadium Santiago Bernabeu in honour of club President Santiago Bernabeu.
• 1972: First electronic scoreboard was set up in the stadium.
• 1994: Following UEFA's guidelines for spectator safety, the Bernabeu was upgraded to provide a more comfortable experience.
• 2018: Pérez's renovation plans to revamp the stadium were approved in the 2018 General Assembly.
• 2019: The remodelling process began.
• 2022: Work was to be completed by 2022, but the pandemic and war in Ukraine delayed plans.
• 2024: The Real Madrid stadium upgrade was completed.