El Estádio de Santiago Bernabéu is
Real Madrid's home ground. It is a UEFA-classified Elite Stadium, awarded the top 5-star status
in 2007.
Tickets for all of Real Madrid's home games at this stadium may be purchased
here!
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Spain's premier football team, Real Madrid, are closely associated. Some truly memorable football has been played within the walls of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, and no doubt many more hours of memorable football has yet to be played there too.
Work commenced on a bare patch of ground on October 27th, 1944. The inauguration of the stadium, then called Estadio Chamartén, took place on December 14th, 1947. Eight years later on January 4th, 1955, Real Madrid changed the name of the stadium to its current name in honor of Santiago Bernabéu, the club's president at the time.
The first match played at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was played between Real Madrid and Os Belenenses. Real Madrid delighted its fans on this historic occasion by winning 3-1.
The stadium is divided into 4 historical zones: Fondo Norte (North Side); Fondo Sur (South Side); Lateral (East Side); and Preferencia (West Side).
These 4 sides are divided by 4 enormous towers, giving access to the tiers or
anfiteatros on each side. The 1st tier was actually built below street
level, and 8 lifts throughout the stadium give access to some of the areas.
The club offers a tour of this magnificent stadium, which includes
the following:
Ride in one of the lifts, to contemplate a magnificent panoramic
view of the pitch
Visit to the Trophy Room, with its European, Intercontinental and
Spanish League trophies, amongst many, many others
Walk round the pitch, seeing the famous turf at ground level
A visit to the Presidential Balcony, where the Board Members and
special guests are located during the games, and where the team captains
lift trophies won.
Walk through the players' tunnel, to the bench and coaching
areas
Entrance to some of the most advanced dressing rooms in the world.
Since the Real Madrid players would like some privacy, entrance is
provided to the visiting team's dressing rooms
The Santiago Bernabeu Real Madrid tour may be booked here.
In the heady world of football, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is legendary. It enjoys a high level of fame and respect from football fans and players all over the world. The European Cup final has been played in the stadium in 1957, 1969 and 1980 - three times in all. In 2010 it once again hosted the European Cup final, and was filled to capacity for the event.
The total capacity of the stadium has reduced a lot over the years, though this has been balanced to some degree by expansion in other areas. In 1953 it could hold a total of 120,000 following an expansion of the stadium that year. Standing places were taken away in the late 1990s, which helped to reduce capacity, and increasing regulations took their toll too. Today in the early 21st century the capacity of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is 80,400.
The stadium and Real Madrid's popularity are such that it has its own Metro station on the number 10 line called Santiago Bernabéu - what else! Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is located on Paseo de la Castellana at Avenida de Concha Espina in the center of the business district of Madrid, north of the city center,
and close to the business districts of
Cuatro Torres and AZCA, with its
Picasso Tower.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is not used only for football matches, though this will always be its main use. Major concerts are occasionally staged in the ground. Bruce Springsteen, for example, the US rock star, played in the stadium in the summer of 2007, and again in summer 2008.
You can buy tickets for a guided tour on a daily basis, except for days when matches are being played, as well as the day after. The tour takes in a panoramic view of the stadium, the field itself where all the play happens, the players' dressing rooms, and the exhibition of Real Madrid's many glorious trophies. This magnificent tour is included in the price of the Madrid Card.
More information about Real Madrid's stadium may be found in the flash presentation below:
INFORMATION
Address: Avenida de Concha Espina, 1. 28036 Madrid
Metro: Estación Santiago Bernabéu (Line 10)
Tickets for all of Real Madrid's home games at this stadium may be purchased
here!
