Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium is the home of Atletico Madrid, a spectacular 70,692-capacity arena in the east of Madrid and one of the finest modern grounds in Europe. Demand for Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium tickets is driven by the passion of the Atletico support, by the Madrid derby against Real Madrid and by the visits of Barcelona and the biggest nights of the Champions League, at a ground chosen to stage European finals. The stadium, opened in its current form in 2017 to replace the old Vicente Calderon, sits in the San Blas district and has carried several names, known today as the Riyadh Air Metropolitano after its sponsor. 1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace established in 2006, with seat-level detail at checkout and a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
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This guide is written for the supporter making the trip, not the browser. It covers the Metro out to the ground in east Madrid, how the stands are arranged around the Fondo Sur, where away fans sit, the bag rules and the entry process, the food and tapas culture of the city, and the story of one of the great clubs of Spanish football and its striking new home. By the end you should know how an Atletico matchday runs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the Estadio Metropolitano |
| Location | San Blas-Canillejas, eastern Madrid, Spain |
| Capacity | 70,692 |
| Opened | 2017 in its current form, replacing the Vicente Calderon |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Home Club | Atletico Madrid |
| Home End | The Fondo Sur, the south end |
| Record Attendance | 70,112, Atletico against Real Madrid in 2024 |
| Notable | Host of the 2019 Champions League final, chosen for the 2027 final |
| Nearest Metro | Estadio Metropolitano on Metro line 7 |
Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium sits in the San Blas-Canillejas district in the east of Madrid, a few kilometres from the centre, and its great advantage is the Metro, which serves the ground directly and superbly from across the city. Most supporters arrive by Metro, stepping off almost at the gates, and Madrid's public transport is cheap, frequent and easy to use. The ground is well connected to the centre and the airport, making it one of the more accessible big stadiums in Europe.
The Metro is the easiest way in, with the Estadio Metropolitano station on line 7 right by the ground, boasting the largest platform on the network to handle the matchday crowds, a walk of only a minute or two to the turnstiles. Line 7 links the ground across the city, and nearby stations including Las Rosas on line 2, Canillejas on line 5 and Las Musas on line 7 give further options. The Metro is frequent on matchday and is comfortably the simplest way to the ground for the vast majority of supporters.
Several bus routes serve the San Blas area and the stadium, giving an alternative to the Metro, while the Cercanias suburban rail network connects the wider region to the Madrid Metro for the final leg out to the ground. The dense public-transport network of the city means the stadium is reachable in many ways, though the Metro is the standard and simplest approach. Combining a Cercanias train or a bus with the Metro is straightforward from across the region.
Madrid Barajas airport lies close to the ground in the east of the city, only a short Metro or taxi ride away, so visitors flying in are near the stadium on arrival, though most head into the centre to stay and travel back out for the match. From central Madrid the ground is too far to walk comfortably, so the Metro is the sensible choice, but from the Estadio Metropolitano station the walk to the turnstiles is very short. The proximity to the airport makes the ground especially easy for international visitors.
Driving into Madrid and out to the ground is possible, with some parking around the stadium in its more open eastern setting, but the roads get busy on matchday and the Metro is far easier. The advice is to use the excellent Metro rather than drive, given the traffic and the crowds around a big match. Visitors staying outside the city can park at a Metro station on the edge of Madrid and ride in, which is simpler than driving to the ground.
Parking at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium is available around the ground in its eastern setting, more than at a city-centre stadium, but the spaces and the approach roads fill up before a bigger match and the traffic builds, so arriving early helps. Given how directly and superbly the Metro serves the ground, with the Estadio Metropolitano station right at the turnstiles, the vast majority of supporters find public transport far easier than driving. Drivers coming from outside the city should aim to park at a Metro station on the edge of Madrid and ride in, avoiding the congestion around the ground on matchday, particularly for the Madrid derby.
Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium is a spectacular modern bowl, enclosed and steep with the stands close to the pitch and a striking undulating roof, one of the finest arenas in Europe and a worthy stage for Champions League finals. The stands run continuously around the pitch in two main tiers, with the main stand along one side holding the premium and hospitality seating, the stand opposite along the other touchline, and the two ends behind the goals, the Fondo Sur and the Fondo Norte. The Fondo Sur, the south end, is the home of the most passionate Atletico support and the loudest part of the ground on a matchday.
The Fondo Sur behind the south goal is the home of Atletico's most passionate support, where the singing, the flags and the atmosphere come from in the red and white of the club, carrying on the fervent culture of the old Vicente Calderon. This is the section to target for the fullest experience, packed and loud in the Spanish tradition, close to the pitch in the steep modern bowl. The Fondo Sur is the beating heart of an Atletico matchday and a large part of what makes the ground special on the big nights.
The two side stands hold the halfway line and the best balanced views of the play, with the premium and hospitality seating, the media positions and the tunnel concentrated along one side. The higher-priced central seats give the finest all-round view, while the upper tier offers a commanding, elevated perspective of the whole pitch and the sweeping roof. Both tiers give clear sightlines across the modern bowl, and the central rows are the pick for a tactical overview, with the ends and the corners more affordable and closer to the atmosphere.
Away supporters are housed in a corner or one end of the ground, high in the stand, with a good view but separated from the home support, and an allocation that varies by fixture, larger for the biggest visiting clubs. The ground has strong accessible provision as a modern stadium, with wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, though supporters with access requirements should contact the club before the match to confirm the arrangements. The table below matches a section to what you want from the day.
| Priority | Recommended Sections |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | The Fondo Sur, the home end |
| Tactical overview | Side stands, central rows |
| Close to pitch | Front rows of the lower tier |
| Elevated view | Upper tier along the sides |
| Budget-friendly | The Fondo Norte and the corners |
| Away fans | Corner or end section by fixture |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair-user bays with companion spaces (request at purchase) |
Madrid has a continental climate, with very hot, dry summers and cold winters, sitting high on the plateau of central Spain, so the conditions at a match vary sharply across a La Liga season. The striking roof covers most of the seated areas of the bowl, giving shade from the fierce summer sun and shelter from the winter cold and the occasional rain, though the open centre and the front rows are more exposed. For a summer or early-season fixture take sun protection and water given the Madrid heat, and for a winter match a warm layer against the cold of the central plateau.
Like other La Liga grounds, Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium runs a firm bag policy with searches on entry, so the sensible approach is to travel light. Large bags and rucksacks are best left at your accommodation, since oversized bags are refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Standard prohibited items apply, including bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares, and any object judged dangerous. Bring photo identification, as it may be checked for certain fixtures. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit before you travel, and arrive early to clear the search, especially for the derby or a Champions League night.
Madrid is one of the great food and drink cities of Europe, famous for its tapas, its late-night dining and its lively bar culture, so the matchday build-up is a real pleasure. The ground is out in the San Blas district in the east, so while there are local spots and the stadium's own catering, the fuller choice of bars and restaurants is across central Madrid, a Metro ride away.
The pleasure of a Madrid matchday is the tapas and the bar culture, moving from bar to bar for small plates, a glass of wine or a cana of beer, in the Spanish tradition. The city is full of tapas bars, tabernas and restaurants serving everything from jamon and tortilla to the hearty cocido madrileno stew and fine seafood brought in from the coast, matched with the wines of Spain. Central Madrid, around the Plaza Mayor, La Latina and the central districts, is the place to eat and drink, and a round of tapas before the Metro out to the ground is one of the joys of a football trip to the city.
Central Madrid, from the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor to the tapas streets of La Latina, is the place to gather before a match, with its bars, tabernas and restaurants, while the San Blas area around the ground is more residential with local spots and the catering at the stadium. Because the ground is out to the east, most supporters build the day around the centre of the city and take the Metro out. The Spanish habit of eating and drinking late suits an evening kick-off well.
Inside the stadium the concourses serve Spanish matchday food and drink at the usual standard, from snacks to the usual refreshments. The real draw, though, is the tapas and dining of Madrid across the wider city, so for a fuller experience eat and drink in the centre beforehand, among the tapas bars and tabernas, then take the Metro out to the ground for the match.
Atletico use modern ticketing, so for most fixtures the ticket is scanned at the turnstile, whether issued digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the match, and identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. Have the ticket and your identification ready before you reach the entrance. Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd filter in, and with a bag search the entrances get busy in the last half hour, particularly for the Madrid derby or a Champions League night. Aim to be at the ground in good time rather than joining the final rush, and note that La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening.
Leaving a ground served directly by the Metro is one of the easiest parts of a Riyadh Air Metropolitano visit, with the network carrying the crowd quickly back across the city.
The Metro from the Estadio Metropolitano station on line 7, built with the largest platform on the network to handle the crowds, carries supporters back into the centre of Madrid after the match, running frequently to clear the ground. The station is busy immediately after a bigger fixture, but the large platform and the frequent trains move the crowd efficiently. The excellent network means you are quickly back in the heart of Madrid for the evening.
Buses serve the area for those heading to other parts of the city, and taxis and ride-hailing are plentiful in Madrid, though they are busy right after the final whistle, so a short walk before picking one up can be quicker. The Metro is the fastest and simplest way out for most supporters, but the alternatives are there for those staying away from a line. The proximity to the airport also makes a late departure straightforward for visitors flying out.
The natural way to end an Atletico matchday is to take the Metro back into the centre of Madrid for the evening, for tapas and a drink in one of the great food cities of Europe, where the night starts late. The simplest way to beat any post-match crowd is to let the first wave clear before heading off, then enjoy the city. An evening over tapas and wine in central Madrid after the match is a fine end to a football trip.
The ground began life as an athletics stadium known as La Peineta, built in the 1990s in the east of Madrid, and was completely rebuilt and expanded into a major football arena that reopened in September 2017, when Atletico Madrid moved in from their old home at the Vicente Calderon by the Manzanares river. Designed by the architects Cruz y Ortiz and built at a cost of around two hundred and forty million euros for the transformation, it gave Atletico a spectacular modern home with a striking undulating roof, a worthy stage for one of Spain's great clubs. The ground has carried several sponsored names and is known today as the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Atletico Madrid, formed in 1903, are one of the big three of Spanish football alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona, with a proud and distinctive identity built on grit, resilience and a fierce support, the Rojiblancos of the red and white stripes. Under the long management of Diego Simeone the club has been a leading force in Spain and Europe, winning La Liga and reaching the Champions League final twice in recent years, as well as lifting the Europa League on several occasions. The move to the Metropolitano marked a new era for a club that had spent decades at the beloved but ageing Calderon.
The new ground quickly proved its standing by hosting the 2019 Champions League final, when Liverpool beat Tottenham to lift the trophy in Madrid, and it has been chosen to stage the final again in 2027, a mark of its quality as a venue. It has also hosted major concerts by some of the biggest names in music, and its record attendance of 70,112 came in a Madrid derby against Real Madrid in 2024. From La Peineta to a Champions League final venue, the Metropolitano has become one of the premier arenas in European football.
The stadium's history, verified by contemporary records, is defined by the arrival of Atletico Madrid in 2017 and by the major occasions the ground has hosted since. Its greatest occasion so far is the 2019 Champions League final, when Liverpool beat Tottenham in Madrid, and it has been chosen for the final again in 2027. The Madrid derby against Real Madrid is the domestic fixture that means the most, drawing the record crowd in 2024, while the visits of Barcelona and the big Champions League nights fill the ground, giving the arena a central place in the modern European game.
Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium is a spectacular, modern ground, among the finest in Europe, so its future lies in continuing as the home of Atletico Madrid and as a leading host for the biggest occasions in the game, with the 2027 Champions League final already secured. As one of the newest and most impressive large stadiums on the continent, it needs no major redevelopment, and the focus is on the club's ambitions on the pitch and on attracting the marquee matches and events that suit such a venue. For now the arena remains a showpiece home for Atletico and a regular stage for the finals and big nights of European football.
Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium has strong accessible provision as a modern stadium, with wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, along with facilities for supporters with a range of access needs. Supporters requiring accessible seating should contact the club well before the match to confirm the available spaces, arrange any companion ticket and check the best route into the ground. The Estadio Metropolitano Metro station beside the stadium, with its large platform and step-free access, makes the arena one of the more accessible large grounds in Europe, though it is worth confirming the arrangements and allowing extra time on a busy matchday.
The fixtures that move Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium tickets fastest are the Madrid derby and the biggest nights of the Champions League. The derby against Real Madrid is the standout occasion, one of the fiercest in the game, and you can find the visitors on the Real Madrid tickets page. The visit of Barcelona is another huge draw, covered on the Barcelona tickets page, while the club's continental campaign runs through the Champions League tickets listings at a ground chosen to host the final. The meetings with Real Betis and RCD Espanyol and the rest of the La Liga programme also sell strongly, with the full home schedule on the Atletico Madrid tickets and La Liga tickets pages. Fixtures against mid-table sides are the most accessible and sometimes available closer to kick-off. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than fixed and buy early for the derby and the marquee European matches.
1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace that has operated since 2006, showing seat-level detail before you pay and backing every order with a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday. The eight steps below cover the process from finding a fixture to tracking your order.
Step1
Find the fixture
Go to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium listing on 1BoxOffice and select the match you want. Each fixture shows the available stands, rows and current pricing before you commit to a seat.
Step2
Check the seat detail
Use the stand and price filters to compare sections. Seat location and row are shown against the venue layout, so you can weigh a place near the Fondo Sur against a central side-stand seat before deciding.
Step3
Confirm the supporter section
Make sure the block matches who you are travelling with. Home and visiting-supporter areas are listed separately, and away fans are routed to a corner or end section of the ground.
Step4
Review before checkout
Check the delivery method and the kick-off time against your travel plans, and note that identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening and shift with broadcast scheduling, so verify the date and time before you book travel or a hotel.
Step5
Create your account
First-time buyers should create an account to complete checkout and receive the ticket. Returning customers simply log in. An account keeps your order and delivery details in one place.
Step6
Complete payment
All major credit and debit cards are accepted. The 150% money-back guarantee applies automatically to every order if the ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
Step7
Receive your ticket
Tickets for Atletico fixtures are typically issued digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the match. Keep the ticket and your identification ready to scan and check, and follow the delivery instructions supplied with your order.
Step8
Track your order
Follow delivery status and manage your booking through track order. Tickets arrive ahead of the match so you can travel with everything ready.
Madrid is one of the great football-trip cities in the world, pairing a match with world-class art, food and nightlife in a warm and welcoming capital. Fly into Madrid Barajas airport, close to the ground in the east of the city, then head into the centre to stay and travel back out to the Metropolitano by Metro for the match. Base yourself centrally, and remember that identification may be checked for certain fixtures, that the ground is out in the San Blas district rather than the centre, and that the tapas, the art and the late-night culture of Madrid are a reason to travel in themselves. Madrid pairs a match with one of the most rewarding city breaks in Europe.
With so much to see and do, many supporters build a longer trip around the match. If you are lining up other fixtures, the football tickets hub, the wider football tournaments calendar and the venues tickets directory show what else is on. In and around Madrid, the Prado and the Reina Sofia museums, the Retiro park, the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor, and the tapas streets of La Latina all reward a matchday trip to the Spanish capital.
Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium holds 70,692, making it one of the largest grounds in Spain. It is a spectacular, enclosed modern bowl with two main tiers close to the pitch and a striking roof, which gives it a strong atmosphere led by the Fondo Sur. The record attendance of 70,112 came in a Madrid derby against Real Madrid in 2024.
The ground is the home of Atletico Madrid, one of the big three of Spanish football, who moved here in 2017 from the old Vicente Calderon. Known as the Rojiblancos, Atletico are one of the leading clubs in Spain and Europe, and the Metropolitano is their spectacular modern home in the east of the city.
Take the Metro. The Estadio Metropolitano station on line 7 is right by the ground, with the largest platform on the network to handle the crowds, a minute or two from the turnstiles. Nearby stations on lines 2 and 5 give further options, and the airport is a short ride away. The Metro is far easier than driving on matchday.
There is some parking around the ground in its eastern setting, more than at a city-centre stadium, but the spaces and roads fill up before a bigger match. Given how directly the Metro serves the ground, with the Estadio Metropolitano station at the turnstiles, most supporters find public transport far easier than driving, especially for the derby.
Yes, Atletico tickets are sold to the general public, though the Madrid derby against Real Madrid and the big Champions League nights sell out fast. Identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. A verified secondary marketplace is a realistic route for visitors, with seat detail shown before you pay.
Travel light, as large bags and rucksacks are refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Expect a search at the turnstile. Bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares are prohibited. Bring photo identification, as it may be checked for certain fixtures. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit.
The Fondo Sur, the south end behind the goal, is the home of Atletico's most passionate support, so target it for the fullest atmosphere in the red and white of the club, carrying on the fervent culture of the old Calderon. The side stands are calmer and better for a clear tactical view, while the upper tier gives a commanding elevated perspective.
Visiting supporters are housed in a corner or one end of the ground, high in the stand, with a good view but separated from the home support. The allocation varies by fixture and is larger for the biggest visiting clubs. Away fans should check the details for their specific game and follow the guidance issued with the ticket.
Yes. As a modern ground it has wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, and the Estadio Metropolitano Metro station beside the stadium offers step-free access. Contact the club before the match to confirm the seating and arrange it in advance, and allow extra time on a busy matchday.
Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd in, typically well over an hour before a La Liga match, and earlier for a big Champions League night. With a bag search, the entrances get busy in the last half hour, so aim to arrive in good time, especially for the derby. Note that La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening. The precise opening time is confirmed with your ticket.
The concourses serve Spanish matchday food and drink. The real draw is Madrid itself, one of Europe's great food cities, famous for its tapas, its tabernas and its late-night dining. Eat and drink in the centre, around La Latina and the Plaza Mayor, before taking the Metro out to the ground for the match.
The Madrid derby is the meeting of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, the two great clubs of the capital and one of the fiercest rivalries in the game. It is the fixture that means the most to the Atletico support, charged with history and rivalry, and it fills the Metropolitano and drew the record crowd of 70,112 in 2024.
The ground began as an athletics stadium known as La Peineta in the 1990s and was rebuilt and expanded into a major football arena that reopened in September 2017, when Atletico moved in from the Vicente Calderon. Designed by the architects Cruz y Ortiz, it gave the club a spectacular modern home, and it has carried several sponsored names.
Prices depend heavily on the opponent, with the Madrid derby against Real Madrid and the big Champions League nights the most expensive, while mid-table La Liga fixtures are more affordable. As one of Spain's biggest clubs, Atletico command higher prices for the marquee games. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than a promise.
Anywhere central in Madrid works well, as the Metro reaches the ground directly from across the city, so you can stay near the sights and the nightlife and ride out to the east for the match. The central districts around the Plaza Mayor, Sol and La Latina put you among the tapas bars and restaurants, with easy Metro access to the ground.
Atletico issue tickets digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the fixture, scanned at the turnstile, and identification may be checked against the ticket for certain matches. Have the ticket and your identification ready before you arrive. Follow the delivery and entry instructions supplied with your order, as the requirements can vary by fixture.
The ground is known as the Estadio Metropolitano, carrying on the name of an earlier Atletico home, and has taken different sponsor names over the years, styled today as the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Many supporters simply call it the Metropolitano or the Metro. It is the same ground throughout, opened in its current form in 2017.
The ground is out in the San Blas district in the east, so the attractions are in central Madrid, a short Metro ride away. The Prado and Reina Sofia museums, the Retiro park, the Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor and the tapas streets of La Latina all reward a matchday trip to Madrid, one of the great cities of Europe.
Yes. The ground hosted the 2019 Champions League final, when Liverpool beat Tottenham in Madrid, and it has been chosen to stage the final again in 2027, a mark of its quality as a venue. It has also hosted major concerts by some of the biggest names in music, confirming its place among the premier arenas in Europe.
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Sources: Atletico Madrid (atleticodemadrid.com), club matchday guidance, Madrid Metro and EMT transport information, and stadium reference records such as Wikipedia and stadium databases. Information was gathered in July 2026 and may change; check sources for the latest details. 1BoxOffice is not affiliated with Atletico Madrid or the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.