Vicente Calderón

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Lore & Background

The stadium was originally called the Estadio Manzanares, but was later renamed the Vicente Calderón Stadium in honour of long-term President Vicente Calderón. Construction began in 1959 but halted due to financial problems; it opened in 1966. The original capacity was 62,000. For the 1982 World Cup, 4,000 seats were added, bringing capacity to 66,000 from 1982 to 2001. After 2001, downsizing began in small steps until closure in 2017, when capacity stood at just below 55,000. A notable feature was that the M-30 dual carriageway passed below one of the main stands. The stadium closed after the 2016–17 season, with Atlético Madrid moving to Metropolitano Stadium. Demolition began in 2019 and completed the following year.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the concrete ribs of the Calderón, turning the Manzanares into a churning grey ribbon beside the pitch. Inside, the air hung heavy with the scent of wet wool, damp earth, and the acrid bite of burning flares. A sea of red-and-white stripes surged as the referee's whistle cut through the din, the roar vibrating up through the soles of every fan standing on their feet. In the corner, an old man gripped the rusted railing, his eyes fixed not on the ball, but on the sheer, vertical wall of fans behind him—the 'Torcida'—chanting a hymn that had echoed off these concrete walls since 1966. For ninety minutes, the city vanished; there was only the fortress and the team that refused to break.

Reader's Guide

The stadium hosted three games in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. It also hosted the Copa del Rey final on 14 occasions: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2017. The final match was on 28 May 2017 between a past and present Atlético side and a world XI. The closest metro station was Pirámides on Line 5.

Did You Know?

• Bruce Springsteen played here in 1988 with an attendance of 70,000 people.
• The Rolling Stones played here in 1982 with an attendance of 68,000 people.
• Michael Jackson held a sold-out concert on 23 September 1992 as part of his Dangerous World Tour to 54,907 people.
• Mexican pop group RBD recorded their Hecho en España DVD here on 22 June 2007 during their Tour Celestial.

Origins and Architectural Evolution

Construction of a new stadium to replace El Metropolitano originally began in 1959, but came to a halt following financial problems. The ground eventually opened in 1966 as the Estadio del Manzanares, being renamed Vicente Calderón in 1972. The stadium had a capacity of 62,000 people seated when opened in 1966. For the World Cup there was called for even more people in the stadium, so by 1982 the capacity was 66,000 people. The 66,000 capacity was kept until 2001 when downsizing started in small steps at a time. Demolition began in 2019 and completed the following year.

Unique Urban Integration

The stadium was located on the banks of the Manzanares river. A notable, and rather spectacular feature of the Vicente Calderón, was that the M-30 dual carriageway, running from the South Node Toledo Bridge, passed below one of the main stands. The closest metro station to the grounds was Pirámides, located on Line 5.

A Stage for Global Icons

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. This tour spawned eight concerts throughout Spain.

Historic Finals and Final Farewell

The stadium hosted the final of the Copa del Rey (also previously known as the Copa del Generalísimo) on 14 occasions: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2017. The stadium hosted three games in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. The final match at the stadium was on 28 May 2017, between a past and present Atlético side and a world XI.