- 1944: Former Spanish footballer Santiago Bernabéu and Rafael Salgado secured funding to purchase land for a grand new stadium—a bold vision for the future of Real Madrid.
- 1947: That vision came to life with the stadium's official inauguration, laying the foundation for decades of football history.
- 1955: The Bernabéu underwent its first major expansion, boosting capacity to a staggering 125,000. That same year, the General Assembly of Members Compromisaros honoured the club president by naming the stadium Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
- 1972: Modernization continued with the installation of the first electronic scoreboard, enhancing the matchday experience.
- 1994: The stadium saw significant upgrades to improve comfort and security for fans in line with updated UEFA safety standards
- 2018: President Florentino Pérez unveiled an ambitious plan to completely transform the Bernabéu. The proposal was greenlit at the club’s General Assembly that year.
- 2019: Construction officially kicked off, marking the beginning of a massive remodelling effort to future-proof the iconic venue.
- 2022: Originally set as the completion year, progress was slowed due to the global pandemic and the war in Ukraine, pushing timelines further.
- 2023: Despite delays, the club pushed ahead to complete the renovation in time for the 2023–24 season, ushering in a bold new era for Real Madrid’s legendary home.
Santiago Bernabéu renovation highlights
The stadium’s renovation
The changes to the stadium post-renovation are eye-catching and revolutionary, to say the least. The key highlights are the retractable pitch that can make way for different surfaces to be installed, allowing the stadium to host other sporting and non-sporting events. The Santiago Bernabéu roof is now retractable and can open and close in 15 minutes. This also sets the stage for matches to continue even when the weather takes a turn.
