The Santiago Bernabeu stadium is home to the Real Madrid football team and the scene of some of the sport’s most iconic moments. Legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Raul Gonzalez and Emilio Butragueno are just some of the players who built their legacies at this iconic stadium.

Have you ever wondered how the stadium got its name or what exact capacity it can accommodate? Below are ten facts about the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The stadium received its official name in 1955, after a former player, coach and president, Santiago Bernabeu. The Real Madrid legend played for the club from 1921 to 1926, before becoming manager from 1926 to 1927. Bernabeu became president in 1943, serving for 34 years until his death at age 82.

Able to accommodate more than 82,000 people, the Santiago Bernabeu is the third largest stadium in Europe, behind Camp Nou and Wembley Stadium. The capacity is 84,744, but on average it accommodates around 78,000 spectators per match.

Real Madrid installed a hybrid turf surface in 2004, which combines natural grass and synthetic fibers. This helps keep the pitch in excellent condition, something modern pitches struggle to do due to high usage.

Some of the best football clubs in the world use their stadiums as museums. Real Madrid is one of them, with a trophy case that showcases all of its achievements. The Bernabeu Tour has been visited by more than 15 million people since its opening in 1999.

Check out the Walk of Legends if you go to Santiago Bernabeu for the stadium tour. This path runs along the perimeter of the stadium and features statues and plaques of some of Los Blancos’ most notable players.

The stadium installed a retractable roof in February 2023, covering 9,000 square meters of main roof area and 8,000 square meters of interior roof area. The roof retracts in 15 minutes and can be closed on big game nights to create a hostile atmosphere.

The renovations, which included the retractable roof, new LED lighting system and improved reception areas, were completed in 2019 and are estimated to cost approximately $435 million.

The Santiago Bernabeu was one of several stadiums selected to host matches at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. It hosted four matches, including the final between Italy and West Germany, which the Italians won 3-1.

Although its main use is to host Real Madrid matches, the stadium has hosted many music concerts. U2, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and Madonna have all played sold-out concerts there.

The Santiago Bernabeu has hosted four UEFA Champions League/European Cup finals, the first of which was a Real Madrid victory over Fiorentina in 1957. The last final played at the stadium was in 2010 between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.

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