Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Museum: Home of Real Madrid in Madrid

The need for a larger stadium led to the acquisition of land adjacent to the old Campo de Chamartín. Construction symbolically began on November 1, 1944, with Santiago Bernabéu initiating the groundbreaking.

The construction of the new stadium, designed by Manuel Muñoz Monasterio and Luis Alemany Soler, took place from October 1944 to December 1947. The project faced challenges with material shortages and technical difficulties, but was financed through bond issues.

The stadium, initially named Estadio Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, was inaugurated on December 14, 1947, with a match against Os Belenenses. Sabino Barinaga scored the first goal.

On January 4, 1955, following a General Assembly of Members, the stadium was officially renamed in honor of club President Santiago Bernabéu.

A major renovation in 1955 expanded the stadium's capacity to 125,000 spectators, making it the largest stadium among the participants of the newly established European Cup.

Floodlights were installed in March 1957, allowing for nighttime games. They were officially inaugurated on May 18, 1957, during a match against Sport Recife.

In 1965, all of the club's offices were transferred to the stadium, which had previously been moved between various locations in the city.

On December 14, 1972, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of its inauguration, the stadium received its first electronic scoreboard, first used during a friendly match against Belenenses.

The stadium underwent a significant renovation between 1980 and 1982 in preparation for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. This included covering two-thirds of the seating area and reducing capacity from 120,000 to 90,000.

A significant expansion and renovation project between 1992 and 1994 added an amphitheater, new commercial spaces, and improved access. This work increased the stadium's capacity to 106,000.

Following the 1992-1994 renovation, the stadium's height was increased, leading to issues with grass deterioration in winter. A polypropylene pipe network was installed beneath the pitch to circulate hot water and prevent freezing.

In 1997, UEFA required an all-seating arrangement, which led to a reduction in the Santiago Bernabéu's capacity from 106,000 to 74,328 spectators.

The Bernabéu Tour and the club museum were opened on May 20, 1999, offering visitors an inside look at the team's history and the stadium.

President Florentino Pérez launched a 'Master Plan' in the early 2000s aimed at improving spectator comfort, facility quality, and revenue generation. This included a €127 million investment between 2001 and 2006.

The east side of the stadium was expanded as part of Florentino Pérez's Master Plan. This renovation, which also included a new facade and VIP areas, increased the capacity to 80,354 all-seated spectators.

On November 14, 2007, UEFA designated the Santiago Bernabéu as an 'Elite Stadium,' recognizing its quality and suitability for major international events, and it was chosen to host the 2010 Champions League final.

In the summer of 2011, an expansion was carried out in the first amphitheater, adding an extra row to the grandstand overhang and increasing the total capacity to 81,044 spectators.

In December 2018, the stadium was selected to host the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final, becoming the only stadium to have hosted finals of the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, Copa América, Copa Libertadores, and UEFA Champions League.

An ambitious renovation project was announced in 2010 and approved by members in 2011, aiming to transform the stadium into an architectural icon. The project was later modified due to legal challenges and approved in its revised form in 2017.

The major renovation works for the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, designed by GMP Architekten, L35, and Ribas & Ribas, commenced in June 2019, with financing secured through multiple loans.

The financing for the stadium's renovation reached €1.17 billion through several loans, including an additional €370 million in November 2023, to cover costs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine.

The extensive renovation, completed in late 2024, included the installation of a retractable roof and advanced technological features. The stadium's capacity was updated to 83,186.

The stadium officially reopened on December 23, 2023, following the completion of a significant phase of its renovation, which included work on the exterior and the installation of a retractable roof system.

The stadium has a rich history of hosting major finals, including the European Cup/UEFA Champions League on four occasions (1957, 1969, 1980, 2010), the 1964 European Nations' Cup final, and the 1982 FIFA World Cup final.

The stadium was named after Santiago Bernabéu, a legendary footballer and president of Real Madrid, in honor of his significant contributions to the club and the stadium's development.

The original design of the stadium was created by architects Manuel Muñoz Monasterio and Luis Alemany Soler, who won a competition for the project in 1944.

Architect Antonio Lamela was involved in the expansion of the stadium in the 1990s, contributing to significant modernization efforts.

The initial construction of the stadium incurred a total expenditure of 38,300,000 pesetas, covering land acquisition, loans, works, fees, and compensation for expropriations.

The renovation undertaken for the 1982 FIFA World Cup cost approximately 704 million pesetas, with the City of Madrid contributing 530 million.

The expansion and renovation project completed in 1994 had a final cost exceeding 5 billion pesetas, significantly increasing the club's debt.