REAL MADRID have been given the go-ahead by the capital’s City Council to begin work on redeveloping the historic Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos will splash out £500million on giving the iconic stadium a makeover that will reduce its 80,000-plus capacity by just one seat.
Real have been given permission to start renovating the Santiago BernabeuCredit: Real Madrid
Ambitious new plans include an on-site hotel and a new metallic shellCredit: Real Madrid
The club originally unveiled their ambitious new proposal for the famous venue over five years ago with plans to new build a metallic shell, and a hotel on site.
According to documentation seen by AS, the revamp has now been given the seal of approval by Madrid’s City Council for the La Liga giants to start work.
The Bernabeu’s facelift could take as long as five years to complete but the club have officially stated the date of completion to be in October 2022.
The changes to the ground will be dwarfed by the monumental plan to reduce the new-look Bernabeu’s capacity from 80,243…to 80,242.
This stadium will act as an economic and touristic invigorator and will contribute to strengthening the image of our city
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez
Computer-rendered images also reveal the stadium will also feature a retractable roof as well as refurbished private boxes around the ground.
As well as the radical appearance changes, Madrid are also demolishing a nearby shopping centre and the car park to create a space for fans to converge in before matches.
The brand new exterior will then be complemented by the installation of a 360-degree video screen inside the stadium to add to the fans’ experience.
The Bernabeu is one of the most famous grounds in European football and it has been the home of Los Blancos since 1947.
Florentino Perez said in 2016: “With this agreement, we will start a process of modernisation and transformation that will convert the stadium into an avant-garde architectural icon.
“This stadium will act as an economic and touristic invigorator and will contribute to strengthening the image of our city.”
Real’s rivals Barcelona have also outlined plans to undergo a redevelopment of their stadium with work on the Nou Camp to start next summer, lasting until 2023.
Madrid also plan to demolish the car park to allow fans to meet before matchesCredit: Real Madrid
The £500million makeover will radically reduce their stadium capacity by oneCredit: Real Madrid
La Liga suspended and Real Madrid training ground in lockdown after positive coronavirus test
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
