Inside Santiago Bernabéu’s New Look: Why Every Seat Feels Like VIP

Eapen Alexander

Content Writer

Opened in 1947, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium has long been one of world football’s great temples. After a multi-year redevelopment, this historic arena has been transformed into a state-of-the-art venue for the 21st century, all while preserving its core identity. The new Bernabéu is a fortress on La Liga Matchdays, Copa Del Rey Fixtures, and UEFA Champions League Nights. In the upcoming El Clásico, Santiago Bernabéu will be Real Madrid’s 12th player and winning here won’t be easy for FC Barcelona. Below, we take an in-depth look at the Bernabéu’s new design and features, and why every seat now feels like a VIP experience.

1.Architectural Vision and Design

The stadium’s redesign was led by German firm GMP Architekten alongside Spanish architects L35 and Ribas & Ribas, who together won the 2014 competition to revamp the Bernabéu. A striking new metallic skin now wraps around the structure, composed of smoothly curved stainless steel slats (louvres) that give the Bernabéu a bold, futuristic form. These horizontal slats aren’t just for show, they allow natural airflow into the stadium and will serve as a canvas for dynamic LED lighting effects on the exterior. In fact, the façade is designed to project images, colours, and even live game highlights, transforming the stadium’s appearance during night events. From a distance, the new cladding shimmers like a sparkling jewel, reflecting the Madrid sunlight, firmly establishing the stadium as a modern city landmark.

Crucially, the renovation retains the stadium’s original footprint in central Madrid, but with major structural additions. A retractable roof has been installed atop the Bernabéu, supported by massive steel trusses spanning the stadium’s width. This movable roof can fully close to shelter the pitch and fans, enabling events to proceed in any weather and amplifying the crowd noise for a more intense atmosphere. The roof’s inner rim also supports a revolutionary 360-degree video screen (more on that later), and its translucent panels allow daylight to enter when closed. Overall, the new design succeeds in blending form and function, modernising the Bernabéu’s look while adding versatile features that allow it to host everything from football matches to concerts and conventions year-round.

2.Capacity and Fan Comfort

Real Madrid’s retractable roof at the Santiago Bernabéu provides both tactical and environmental advantages. By controlling weather, temperature, and acoustics, it ensures a consistent pitch for Madrid’s precise passing and counter-attacking play while preserving player energy for intense pressing. The enclosed atmosphere amplifies crowd noise, boosting morale and intimidating opponents. In matches like the 2-1 win over Getafe in September 2023, the closed roof helped maintain rhythm despite rain and fueled a late surge leading to Bellingham’s 95th-minute winner. Overall, it enhances performance, crowd influence, and match control, turning the Bernabéu into a fortress blending technology and tactical mastery.

The renovation is far more than a cosmetic facelift, it fundamentally changes how the stadium functions, how fans experience games, and how the club generates revenue year-round.

Despite all the additions, the stadium’s seating capacity remains roughly 81,000-84,000 spectators, similar to before. However, every seat in the house now offers an upgraded experience. The seating bowl has been reconfigured for optimal sightlines, eliminating visual obstructions that plagued some sections of the old design. More legroom, improved ventilation, and modernised facilities throughout the concourses ensure greater comfort even in general seating areas. Notably, heating systems are embedded under many seats to keep fans warm during cold nights, a luxury once reserved only for VIP boxes. Soundproofing measures have also been added around the seating tiers, sharpening the acoustics so that crowd noise is immersive without becoming a muffled roar.

The renovation significantly expanded premium hospitality offerings as well. A new upper level has been added featuring 240 VIP suites and lounges, providing around 1,600 extra high-end seats overlooking the pitch. These luxury areas cater to corporates and dignitaries with private bars and catering, reflecting the modern trend of premium matchday experiences. Still, even the general admission sections benefit from the upgrades, from the wider, cushioned seating to the improved views, making every fan feel like a VIP. In the words of one architect, the goal was to “humanise” the vast stadium and improve comfort for all, not just those in the executive suites. By all accounts, the new Bernabéu has achieved that, creating an environment where any seat in the house is a great one.

3.The Retractable Pitch Engineering Marvel

One of the most jaw-dropping innovations is the Bernabéu’s retractable pitch system, a feat of engineering that truly sets the stadium apart. The natural grass playing field can be mechanically dismantled and stored underground when not in use, allowing the stadium floor to be used for other events without damaging the turf. Unlike simpler retractable fields elsewhere, Real Madrid’s pitch doesn’t slide out in one piece, instead, it splits into six large horizontal sections that are lowered into a huge underground chamber beneath the south end of the stadium. Each section has its own integrated LED grow lights, irrigation, and ventilation systems to keep the grass alive and healthy while in storage.

4.Technology Integration for a Next-Gen Experience

The Santiago Bernabéu is now one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the world. The highlight is a 360-degree LED video board that wraps around the entire inner edge of the roof, encircling the stadium’s bowl. This continuous screen – similar to a giant ring-shaped jumbotron – ensures that every fan, no matter where they sit, can see replays, live stats, and immersive graphics enhancing the match experience. During games, this halo screen can display dynamic visuals, celebrate goals, and bring the crowd closer to the action. Complementing it is a state-of-the-art sound system (aided by the closed-roof acoustics) that can deliver concert-level audio during events.

Connectivity has also been massively upgraded. The entire stadium is blanketed in 5G coverage, enabling fans to stream multi-angle replays on their phones, access real-time stats, and even order food and merchandise from their seats without missing a moment. Entry into the ground is smoother and more secure thanks to digital ticketing and biometric access control, high-tech turnstiles use face recognition and e-tickets to reduce queues and prevent fraud. Meanwhile, an array of high-resolution security cameras and monitoring systems has been discreetly installed to keep fans safe without intruding on the experience.

5.Museum, Megastore and Year-Round Attractions

Real Madrid’s vision for the new Bernabéu was to turn it into a 365-day-a-year destination, not just a venue for 90 minutes of football. As such, many facilities have been added or enhanced to attract visitors on non-matchdays. The stadium now incorporates an expanded Real Madrid Museum on-site, featuring interactive exhibits and augmented-reality experiences that bring the club’s illustrious history to life. Fans can see the glittering collection of European Cups and other trophies up close, with multimedia displays recreating iconic moments in Real Madrid history. The museum and stadium tour have been integrated seamlessly into the new design – for example, a panoramic “skywalk” has been created, allowing visitors to walk along the upper stadium edge for breathtaking views of the pitch and the city.

Adjacent to the museum is a brand new megastore, a two-story team shop packed with official merchandise. This flagship store offers everything from the latest jerseys, which you can customize with your name, to exclusive memorabilia, giving fans a chance to take home a piece of the club. The surrounding concourses and plazas have also been redeveloped to include restaurants, cafés, and event spaces that are open to the public. Real Madrid wants the Bernabéu to be a gathering place in Madrid, whether or not a match is happening, a place where you might come for lunch, a museum visit, a stadium tour, or just to enjoy the atmosphere of an iconic venue.

To that end, the club ensures that a stadium tour is a must-do experience for visitors. On the Bernabéu Tour, fans can explore some of the most exclusive areas of the stadium that are usually off-limits on game days. These behind-the-scenes highlights include:

• The Players’ Tunnel: Walk the same narrow, history-soaked tunnel that Real Madrid legends pass through on matchday. As you descend toward the pitch, you can feel the energy and pressure that builds before kickoff, an immersive taste of what the players experience at every home game.
• The Trophy Room: Marvel at the awe-inspiring collection of silverware in Real Madrid’s trophy room. European Cups, La Liga trophies, and dozens of other honours are on display here, celebrating a legacy like no other club’s. Interactive exhibits and videos let you relive the greatest victories and iconic moments from the club’s history, making this a pilgrimage for any football fan.
• Panoramic Pitch View: Step into the stands for a jaw-dropping panoramic view of the empty stadium and hallowed pitch. The sheer scale and symmetry of the Bernabéu are truly evident from this vantage. It’s the perfect photo op and a reminder of the grandeur that surrounds every Real Madrid home match.
• The Presidential Box: Get a taste of VIP match viewing in the exclusive Presidential Box seating area at midfield. On game days, this area is reserved for royalty, dignitaries, and VIP guests, but during the tour, you can sit in the plush seats and imagine watching a game in this elite setting. The attention to detail and comfort here exemplify the club’s high standards.
• Press Room: Visit the media press room where managers and players give post-match interviews. You can even sit at the press conference table and picture the flash of cameras as you field questions after a big Champions League night. It’s a fun, behind-the-scenes peek at where headlines are made.
• Official Team Store: No visit is complete without stopping by the Real Madrid Official Store at the Bernabé. This modern megastore is an attraction in itself – part museum, part shop – where fans of all ages can pick up everything from jerseys and scarves to one-of-a-kind souvenirs. It’s an extension of the club’s identity and allows fans to literally wear their passion.

These attractions ensure that even when matches aren’t on, the Bernabéu offers a full VIP-style experience for visitors, immersing them in the culture and history of Real Madrid.

6.Expanded Hospitality and Dining

The remodelled Bernabéu isn’t only about sports – it’s also becoming a dining and entertainment hub. Several new restaurants and bars have already opened inside the stadium as part of an upgraded hospitality zone, and more are on the way:

• Puerta 57: A famous local restaurant, now updated within the stadium.
• Arzábal: A trendy Spanish eatery offering modern cuisine.
• Plaza Mahou: A multi-level space featuring its own in-stadium brewery by Madrid’s Mahou beer, perfect for pre-game pints.
• KO by 99: A high-end panoramic restaurant with glass walls overlooking the pitch, so diners can enjoy match views or scenic vistas of the stadium.

These four venues are already open, serving fans and visitors alike. And the club has even bigger plans for the near future: a massive Starbucks café is set to open at the south end, replacing the old Real Café, which will make it the largest Starbucks in Spain. Following that, a new Bernabéu Market food hall is slated to launch, featuring over 25 different dining options for a true culinary variety.

Perhaps the most anticipated addition is a rooftop sky bar, which will offer patrons sweeping panoramic views of both the stadium interior and the Madrid skyline beyond. Whether it’s enjoying a gourmet meal with the game below or sipping cocktails high above the city, these amenities aim to turn the Bernabéu into a luxury leisure destination in its own right. Early signs are promising, in the latter half of 2024, Real Madrid’s hospitality revenue quadrupled year-on-year, thanks to new premium offerings already in use.

7.Vision Behind the Upgrade

The vision behind the project was not just to improve the stadium for football, but to redefine what a football stadium can be in the modern era. Rather than building a new arena on the outskirts of the city, Real Madrid chose to futurise their historic home, blending 75+ years of legacy with cutting-edge innovation. The result is an arena that bridges the past and future – maintaining the grandeur and tradition of the Bernabéu, while adding the flexibility and amenities of a 21st-century mega-venue. Club officials often invoke Real Madrid’s motto of aiming higher, and the renovated Bernabéu embodies that ethos. It stands at the forefront of world stadium design, packed with superlatives (largest, first, most advanced in many categories) and ready to host everything from Champions League finals to NFL games.

In the coming years, the Santiago Bernabéu will not only be a fortress for Los Blancos on matchdays but also a must-visit attraction for sports fans and tourists alike. It’s a place where every seat feels like VIP because of the comfort, technology, and spectacle infused into the design. As the finishing touches are completed and the lights of the new façade shine bright, Real Madrid’s revamped home is poised to set a new standard for stadiums worldwide, a true “football paradise” for those lucky enough to step inside.

Are you looking forward to a Santiago Bernabeu experience on a UCL night when Real Madrid welcomes Juventus? You can book tickets to watch Real Madrid’s games on the 1BoxOffice website.