Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Reform

Once the refurbishment was completed, the Santiago Bernabéu will feature the following new features and innovations:

• A enveloping facade formed by curved stainless steel sheets that reflect the light in a changing way and that adapts to the needs of the new tertiary program, growing or retracting without losing its unity. This envelope incorporates technological and audiovisual elements that are illuminated with different colors and designs depending on the occasion.

• A fixed cover of 28,000 m² and a retractable cover of 8,000 m² that allow the stadium to be used every day of the year, regardless of weather conditions. The retractable roof is composed of 12 movable trusses and inflatable cushions made of a double layer of fluoropolymer-coated PTFE fabric membrane, which are illuminated by LEDs when deployed. The opening and closing process takes between 15 and 20 minutes. 

• A automated system for the playing field which allows the stadium to become a multifunctional space, suitable for concerts, conventions, fairs and various sporting events. The field is divided into 6 trays of 107 meters x 11.67 meters, each weighing approximately 1,500 tons. These trays are moved and stored in a subway greenhouse called Hipogeo, using 24 transport carts. The entire process of moving and storing the pitch takes about 6 hours. The HypogeumThe greenhouse, located on one side of the stadium, has a depth of 30 meters and the trays are stacked one on top of the other by means of a hydraulic elevator system. This greenhouse is equipped with ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, control and irrigation systems, ensuring optimal conditions for the conservation of the turf and facilitating access for ongoing maintenance, without interfering with stadium events. The significant fact about this pitch removal and maintenance system, compared to other existing systems, is that it takes place entirely within the perimeter of the stadium, without the need to occupy outside spaces. This particularity makes this system a unique engineering work in the world.

• A 360-degree video scoreboardsuspended from the roof that surrounds the entire perimeter of the pitch, the first of its kind in a European stadium. With a height of 6.5 meters on the sides and corners, and 11 meters at the back, its screens have an 8-degree inclination, forming a truncated cone instead of a cylinder, giving it a unique design in the world. This video scoreboard has a 13HD pixel resolution, offering excellent image clarity and contrast from any seat. In addition, it can display a large image or multiple content zones simultaneously, including live video, instant replays, statistics, graphics, animations and sponsorship messages. Ten large screens have also been installed at the rear, providing content and information to spectators in the upper tiers. All of this is complemented by the installation of an LED ring in the first amphitheater.

• The Skywalk 360. This is a walkway that runs along the highest part of the stadium, offering breathtaking views of the interior and the city of Madrid. Open all year round, it is notable for housing a luxury sushi restaurant and the Skybar, a VIP restaurant located on the side of the Castellana. This luxurious 700 m² space, with two terraces of 250 m² each, fuses soccer, gastronomy and entertainment. With more than 400 m² of screens, the design is dynamic and changing, making each visit unique. During matches, the Skybar operates as a VIP "super-palace" with 200 seats, and its avant-garde design aspires to be a global benchmark. Inspired by traditional Madrid culture, it blends bars, lights and architecture with technological and dynamic elements. It is divided into four main areas: catering and disco at the ends, a large central bar with a wraparound wine rack, and VIP bleachers and boxes for privacy and views of the pitch.

• A subway logistic ring which allows loading and unloading operations to be underground, thus avoiding the occupation of public space. In addition, a trolley tunnel connected to the loading and unloading circuit has been set up to allow trucks and large vehicles to access the playing field through a mobile grandstand.

• A new grandstand on the east side with capacity for 3,000 spectators. The construction of the fourth east side amphitheater partially compensates for the loss of seats resulting from the new stadium layout, which has increased the space and comfort of some seats. In addition, all the stadium seats have been replaced by navy blue folding seats.
  An increase in the number of seats for people with reduced mobility, elimination of architectural barriers, creation of new, more comfortable accesses and installation of new mechanized communications, thus achieving a substantial improvement in the accessibility of the entire stadium.

• New leisure areas, VIP areas, restaurants and entertainment for the general public. Highlights include the expansion of the Museum and the creation of a second interactive museum, as well as the construction of an official Megastore and the creation of the Bernabéu Market, a 3,000 m² gourmet gastronomic market located in the new Sagrados Corazones square. This market has 25 gastronomic proposals and recreates an urban atmosphere inspired by areas in Tokyo or Hong Kong, with stalls that combine stone bars and metal structures. The market is open all year round, but on match days, one section is reserved for Real Madrid guests, while the rest continues to operate normally.
  Redevelopment and landscaping of 66,700 m² around the stadium, including the creation of a large square of more than 20,000 m² on Paseo de la Castellana and another of 5,500 m² in the new Plaza de Sagrados Corazones, which occupies the site of the former shopping center.

• The Corner of the Bernabeu in Padre Damian.

• In addition, Rafael Salgado Street has been pedestrianized and a five-story subway parking garage with more than 500 parking spaces has been built in Sagrados Corazones Square.