Spanish football giants Real Madrid will embark on a €525 million renovation of their iconic Bernabeu stadium – and technology is at the core of the plans.
The club’s general assembly voted in favour of updating the historic ground after president Florentino Perez promised it would generate €150 million a year in additional revenue. It will take the European champions 35 years to pay off the debt, but they are getting significant value for their investment.
The exterior of the Bernabeu will feature a layer of steel bands capable of lighting up and projecting images. €100 million has been allocated for advanced digital technologies, including a 360-degree video scoreboard, a dedicated e-sports space, and an interactive museum showcasing the club’s history in full virtual reality. A retractable roof will also be installed.
Perez stated that €300 million would improve the area surrounding the Bernabeu, featuring “digital points of sale of the most prestigious electronics and consumer brands,” transforming common areas into a showcase for global innovations. “Our current situation, of great economic safety, makes the club ready to tackle one of its greatest challenges: to turn the Santiago Bernabeu stadium into the best stadium in the world,” Perez added.
Construction is expected to commence early in 2019, pending necessary permissions, and the project is projected to take three and a half years to complete. A video shared on social media illustrates the planned progression of the works.
The Bernabeu renovation embodies a forward-thinking approach, blending architectural innovation with cutting-edge technology to create a state-of-the-art stadium, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports infrastructure.