Metropolitano Stadium Move

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Lore & Background

Unlike the Calderón, which was known for its intense, intimate atmosphere, the new Metropolitano offers a blend of modern comfort and traditional fervor. The move symbolizes resilience; just as the club has survived financial crises and relegation battles in the past, this relocation represents a bold step forward while firmly rooting the future in the soil where it all began. The original stadium was built as part of Madrid's unsuccessful bid to host the 1997 World Athletics Championships, and was opened on 6 September 1994 by the Community of Madrid. It was closed in 2004 due to the city's unsuccessful bid for the 2016 Olympics and in 2013 it passed into the possession of Atlético Madrid. The stadium was rebuilt and the new facility was reopened to the public on 16 September 2017, when Atlético Madrid faced Málaga in La Liga. The stadium had a capacity of 20,000 spectators upon its closure and re-opened with a seating capacity of 68,456 after it was rebuilt. By September 2023, this had been extended to a capacity of 70,460. The capacity then increased to 70,692 with the creation of two skyboxes, expanded VIP seatings, and an additional platform for persons with disabilities.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the new Metropolitano felt heavier, charged with a specific kind of electricity that even the Calderón rarely matched. As floodlights sliced through the Madrid dusk, an elderly fan leaned against the northern tribune's cold steel railing—a tactile echo of the 1923 stands he remembered from his youth. Below, players warmed up on pristine turf while the 'Hinchada' unleashed a roar that seemed to vibrate through the very foundations. It wasn't merely a new building; it was a ghost story made flesh, where the ghosts of past legends merged seamlessly with modern cheers, proving that while the walls had been rebuilt, the soul remained stubbornly, unchangeably Rojiblanco. On 16 September 2017, the Estadio Metropolitano's inaugural event was a 2017–18 La Liga match between Atlético Madrid and Málaga. King Felipe VI of Spain attended the match. Atlético's Antoine Griezmann scored the first goal at the new stadium, as Atlético won 1–0. On 27 September 2017, the Metropolitano hosted its first European game as Chelsea beat Atlético Madrid 2–1 and became the first English club to defeat them at home in any European club competition, as well as the first visiting team to win at the new stadium.

Reader's Guide

The Metropolitano era (2017–Present) captures Atlético Madrid's evolution into a global powerhouse without severing ties to its working-class roots. This chapter is defined by a deliberate architectural mirror: the stadium's design consciously evokes the original 1923 venue, forging an emotional and visual bridge across nearly a century of history. The move was about far more than capacity or revenue; it was a psychological homecoming after fifty years at the Calderón. It cemented the club's identity as one that honors its past while aggressively chasing modern glory. The stadium has since hosted the 2019 UEFA Champions League final on 1 June 2019 and will host the 2027 UEFA Champions League final. It is one of the potential host venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. This return resolves a century-long narrative loop. By reoccupying the site of their founding, Atlético Madrid declared that their greatest asset is not just financial power, but an unbreakable bond with the specific patch of earth and the people who built it there. The heart of the Rojiblancos still beats strongest here.

Did You Know?

• The stadium was the first 100% LED stadium in the world.
• On 17 March 2019, Metropolitano hosted the Spanish women's league match between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona, with 60,739 spectators attending the match, beating the worldwide record for a women's football match between clubs.
• The stadium hosted the 2019 UEFA Champions League final on 1 June 2019, where Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–0.
• In July 2023, the stadium hosted the third edition of La Velada del Año, an annual celebrity boxing event, with over 70,000 tickets sold, becoming the highest attendance for a boxing event in Spain since 1930.
• The stadium's original nickname was 'La Peineta' (The Comb) because of its similarity with a traditional hair comb.