Estadio Vicente Calderón

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Lore & Background

The stadium opened in 1966 with a capacity of 62,000 people. For the 1982 World Cup, another 4,000 seats were added, bringing capacity to 66,000 from 1982 to 2001. After 2001, downsizing started in small steps until closing in 2017, when it stood with just below 55,000 seats. The final match at the stadium was on 28 May 2017, between a past and present Atlético side and a world XI. The stadium hosted the Copa del Rey final on 14 occasions: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2017. It also hosted three games in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

In Their Own Story

Both Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones played here in 1988 and 1981. On 23 September 1992, Michael Jackson held a sold-out concert as part of his Dangerous World Tour to 54,907 people. Mexican pop group RBD recorded their Hecho en España DVD on 22 June 2007 during their Tour Celestial at the stadium.

Reader's Guide

The closest metro station to the grounds was Pirámides, located on Line 5. The stadium was located on the banks of the Manzanares river. The original capacity from 1966 was 62,000 people. For the 1982 World Cup it was decided to add another 4,000 seats, so the capacity from 1982 to 2001 was 66,000. After 2001 downsizing of the stadium started in small steps until its closing in 2017, when it stood with just below 55,000 seats. A notable feature was that the M-30 dual carriageway, running from the South Node Toledo Bridge, passed below one of the main stands.

Did You Know?

• The M-30 dual carriageway passed below one of the main stands.
• Michael Jackson held a sold-out concert to 54,907 people on 23 September 1992.
• The stadium hosted the Copa del Rey final on 14 occasions between 1973 and 2017.