Football club Real Madrid has played its first game in the remodelled Santiago Bernabéu stadium, which is nearing completion following a revamp by architecture studios L35, Ribas & Ribas and GMP Architecten.
A video released by the club ahead of the first match in the renovated stadium showed the structure with its new wrap-around facade largely complete and its retractable roof in place.
Real Madrid returned to the stadium to play fellow Spanish team Getafe on 2 September in the club’s first game since the renovation began. The retractable roof was closed for the game.
Alongside the addition of a retractable roof and a steel facade, the renovation has seen the addition of a terrace surrounding the stadium on top of the stands and a new pitch removal and storage system.
Designed to allow the stadium to be used for large-scale events, the retractable pitch will be housed in six underground levels and feature an underground irrigation system and ultraviolet lighting to maintain the quality of the grass.
The renovation will also see the stadium’s capacity raised from around 81,000 to 85,000, although only just over 66,000 watched the opening match.
