Real Madrid unveil impressive new plans to revamp the iconic Santiago Bernabeu
A retractable roof will be added to the stadium as part of the club's newly unveiled €400m construction project. The redesign is expected to be completed by 2020
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid has unveiled plans to add a retractable roof to the Santiago Bernabeu as part of a €400m project to revamp the iconic venue.
A High Court ruling stalled plans for the redevelopment last year but an agreement has since been reached, enabling the club to push forward with the project.
Assuming the latest proposals are not opposed by local residents, work will begin on the stadium in 2017 and is expected to be completed by 2020.
Madrid have been trying to remodel the stadium for several years but earlier projects were turned down by the city and court decisions. But as announced by Madrid president Florentino Perez on Tuesday, the club finally looks to have been given the green light to redesign the stadium.
“We will see a dramatic transformation of the Santiago Bernabéu,” Pérez said. “This stadium is one of the emblematic icons of our city and we want to make it one of the best stadiums in the world and the undisputed symbol of the strength of our capital.”
“With this agreement we will start a process of modernisation and transformation that will convert the stadium into an avant-garde architectural icon. This stadium will act as an economic and touristic invigorator and will contribute to strengthening the image of our city.”
The revamped venue will also feature a new façade which will cover the stadium’s four corner access towers. As part of the agreement reached between the club and the city, the stadium will not increase its capacity which currently stands at more than 80,000.
Perez said the Santiago Bernabéu will maintain its name, but it may gain a “surname” from a sponsor like at stadiums “everywhere in the world.” While the new roof will help to keep the rain out, it is also expected to be used as a home to promote the eventual stadium sponsor’s name.
Because of the agreement with the city, Madrid won’t be allowed to increase the total size of the structures already in place, so it will have to rearrange the current constructions to be able to remodel the stadium.
Although the proposed hotel and commercial area are still to be negotiated, it’s expected that the car park which separates the ground from ‘Paseo de la Castellan’, one of Madrid’s most famous avenues, will be turned into a huge public square next to the stadium.
Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena said: “This deal happened to promote the modernisation project of the stadium and to improve the urban environment around our beloved Bernabéu.”
As well as the retractable roof the stadium will also boast a 360 degree electronic scoreboard running around its perimeter.
Abu Dhabi investment fund International Petroleum Investment Company is helping finance the renovation. Perez, who has made his fortune in construction, confirmed his company ACS would not be part of the bidding process.
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