About Santiago Bernabéu - Real Madrid's Home Stadium

Known as "Estadio Santiago Bernabéu" in Spanish, Santiago Bernabéu is a professional football stadium that is located in Chamartín, Madrid, Spain. It is home to Real Madrid football club which is dubbed as Europe's most successful team. Since its completion in 1947, the stadium has ranked as the second biggest in the country.

Santiago Bernabéu is one of the prestigious football stadiums in history. Its construction began in October 1994 after designs and layout were given by Manuel Muñoz, Luis Alemany Soler, Monasterio, and Antonio Lamela. 

The project was properly funded and timely delivered on December 1947 - that is, 3 years years after. Santiago Bernabéu was not the most grand of all stadiums during that time but it boost of standard sport facilities. 

The Stadium was officially opened for use in 14 December 1947 and has since that time became the home of Real Madrid FC. 

More so, the football stadium have been renovated for three (3) times with the recent one in 2020. From 1947 to 1952, Santiago Bernabéu had a 100,000 sitting capacity - however, during this period no renovation was done. 

It was between 1952 to 1982 that the stadium capacity was extended to 125,000 from 100,000. In that same 1982, renovation of the stadium was done. 

From 1982 to 1994, the capacity of the stadium was reduced to 98,000 with no renovation being done. Then, from 94 to 99, the capacity was again increased to 

110,000. It was in 2001 that Santiago Bernabéu was renovated for the second time with capacity dwindling from 110,000 to 85,000 between 1999 to 2011. 

In 2011, the capacity of the football stadium was further reduced from 85,000 to 81,044 - which the current figure holding true till this day (2022). 

Nevertheless, Santiago Bernabéu has a field size that measures 105 m by 68 m which is equivalent to 344 ft by 223 ft. This figure is impressive as it is above the average size of football stadiums.

Additionally, the surface of Santiago Bernabéu is made from high quality Mixto hybrid grass.

Major Match Hosting 

Santiago Bernabéu has hosted several major matches. The stadium which is named after former Madrid president hosted both the UEFA Champions League and the European Cup on a good number of occasions.

The stadium kick-started its European competition hosting career by being host to 1957 Champion League. This feat was followed by subsequent hosting to the tournament's versions of 1969, 1980, and 2010.

Aside from this, Santiago Bernabéu is also the first and only football stadium to 2 continental cup finals - Copa Libertadores and UEFA European Champions League.

This Madrid-based football pitch was also the first stadium in the history of European football to host a FIFA World Cup final and a UEFA Euro final. It did so by hosting the 1982 FIFA World Cup and the 1964 European Nations Cup final.

In terms of Major International tournaments, Santiago Bernabéu also has its own fair share of hosting. It was the host of 3 games during the 1964 European Nations' Cup - the competition was played in Spain. 

This Real Madrid stadium hosted 1 qualifying and 2 main games in the competition - all of which involved Spain.

Santiago Bernabéu is a prestige football stadium with lots of history and heritage. This article brings to light some of them. Let's hear from you.