Vicente Calderón Stadium Era
Home of Atlético Madrid since 2017, host of the 2019 and 2027 UEFA Champions League finals.
The Metropolitano Stadium, officially known as Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium due to sponsorship, is a football stadium in Madrid, located in the Rosas neighbourhood in the San Blas-Canillejas district. It has been the home stadium of Atlético Madrid since 2017.
- Location
- Avenida de Luis Aragonés, Madrid
- Primary Use
- Club Atlético de Madrid Home Matches
- Notable Era
- 1966–2017
- Architectural Style
- Modernist Concrete Bowl
- Famous Feature
- The Fondo Sur (South Stand), affectionately known by fans as 'El Callejón'
Lore & Background
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 reopened on 16 September 2017. It hosted the 2019 UEFA Champions League final and will host the 2027 UEFA Champions League final.
In Their Own Story
Rain lashed against the corrugated roof of the 'Callejón', turning the air into a swirling mist of steam, sweat, and noise. Inside, the concrete walls seemed to pulse with the rhythmic thud of a thousand drums beating as one. A young supporter leaned over the cold railing, his breath fogging up as he watched the red-and-white stripes blur on the sodden pitch below. The crowd's roar surged like a tidal wave, drowning out the referee's whistle as a striker broke free.
Reader's Guide
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 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. It is one of the potential host venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Did You Know?
- The stadium was formerly known as Estadio de la Comunidad de Madrid, Estadio Olímpico de Madrid, and more commonly by its nickname Estadio de La Peineta.
- The stadium was the first 100% LED stadium in the world.
- On 17 March 2019, the Metropolitano hosted a women's league match between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona with 60,739 spectators, beating the worldwide record for a women's football match between clubs.
- In July 2023, the stadium hosted La Velada del Año, an annual celebrity boxing event, with over 70,000 tickets sold, the highest attendance for a boxing event in Spain since 1930.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Atletico Madrid universe
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