Sunday November 16th 2025 will decrease in history as the very first time an NFL video game was ever hosted in Spain as its capital city, Madrid, hosts a fight in between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders as part of the competition’s worldwide series.
Madrid has actually placed the occasion as part of a larger method to draw in big worldwide sports residential or commercial properties, hosting the video game at Genuine Madrid’s renowned Bernabéu Arena. The arena’s remodelling has actually turned it into a year-round location efficient in hosting football, Football, significant performances and business occasions.
For the NFL, the video game represents an advance in broadening its worldwide calendar and developing a footprint in brand-new European markets while using the powerhouse that is the Spanish-speaking market.
5 realities about the Bernabéu
The arena, freshly branded as “Bernabéu”, dumping its complete previous name of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu hosts as much as 83,186 and is tipped to be a total sell-out for the very first NFL video game to happen on Spanish soil. Here are some more interesting realities about the host center.
1. The arena was integrated in the after-effects of war, and called after the male who motivated it
The Santiago Bernabéu Arena formally opened on 14 December 1947, constructed to change the older Campo de Chamartín and offer a home befitting the aspirations of Genuine Madrid. The choice followed then-president Santiago Bernabéu’s vision of an arena that might host both domestic league components and international-level soccer.
Building and construction happened in the after-effects of the Spanish Civil War and The Second World War, implying products and resources were limited, yet the job was finished in roughly 3 years. Over the years, the arena has actually gone through several remodellings and growths to equal developing arena requirements.
Its name was altered in 1955 to honour Santiago Bernabéu himself. Today the location stands not just as Genuine Madrid’s home ground however likewise as a sign of the club’s development from nationwide powerhouse to international brand name.
2. Significant sporting occasions are absolutely nothing brand-new, the 1982 World Cup last being among the greatest
On a global scale, the arena has actually acted as the location for the last of the 1964 European Countries’ Cup, when Spain beat the Soviet Union to declare the title. More plainly, it hosted the last of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, when Italy beat West Germany 3-1. It is likewise among the frontrunners to host the greatest component in soccer as soon as again in 2030, pending competing quotes from co-host Morocco.
At club level, the Bernabéu has actually hosted 4 European Cup or Champions League finals in 1957, 1969, 1980 and 2010. The very first of those, the 1957 last on 30 Might, saw Genuine Madrid defeat Fiorentina 2-0 in front of an approximated 124,000 viewers. The 1969 last ended 4-1 in favor of air conditioning Milan over Ajax while 11 years later on Nottingham Forest beat Hamburg by a 1-0 scoreline. In 2010 the location once again hosted the last of the then-Champions League, when Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich 2-0.
In 2018 the Bernabéu hosted the 2nd leg of the Copa Libertadores last in between Boca Juniors and River Plate, the very first time the South American last was played outside the continent.
3. The monetary capacity of a $1.6 billion financial investment
Genuine Madrid’s redevelopment of the Bernabéu has actually turned into one of the most pricey arena tasks in European soccer. The club reported an overall financial investment of about EUR1.3 billion ($ 1.6 billion) since 30 June 2025, according to its main monetary declarations. The scale of the job needed among the biggest funding plans in the sector. El País reported that Genuine Madrid protected loans amounting to roughly EUR1.2 billion ($ 1.4 billion) throughout 3 long-lasting bundles to money the remodelling.
The goal of this financial investment has actually been to broaden the arena’s industrial capacity and boost yearly operating earnings. Before the pandemic, the location produced around EUR128 million ($ 149 million) per season. Reporting from AS kept in mind that the club intends to move that figure more detailed to EUR300 million ($ 349 million) as soon as the refurbished arena is operating at complete capability.
The monetary effect is currently noticeable in the club’s accounts. Throughout the 2023/24 season Genuine Madrid ended up being the very first football club to exceed EUR1 billion ($ 1.2 billion) in yearly earnings, according to Deloitte’s Football Cash League. Financial reports reveal that repeating arena earnings increased by 38% year over year, leaving out seat licence sales.
4. The arena has actually been home to far more than Genuine Madrid
Over the last few years the arena has actually progressed beyond its soccer roots into a wider home entertainment location. Significantly, international pop star Taylor Swift carried out 2 performances there on 29 and 30 Might 2024 as part of her Periods Trip, marking among the largest-scale musical occasions kept in the center following its significant remodelling. Even before the modernization, the arena hosted significant performances by international artists such as U2 and Bruce Springsteen, while Karol G has actually likewise checked out because Swift’s trip.
The arena’s remodelling, which cost in the area of EUR1.9 billion, consisted of updates to audience convenience and innovation that made the arena better for big performances. While the club stays mostly concentrated on soccer, the shift towards combined usage shows the location’s capability to host significant international home entertainment and sporting occasions alike.
The city itself is likewise anticipating a significant earnings, potentially even going beyond the success of other places in the worldwide series, such as in Berlin. 2Playbook points out reports from the city’s quote intending to produce as much as EUR16 million ($ 18.6 million) in associated profits.
5. Adjustments have actually been produced NFL, such as the locker spaces
To accommodate football requirements the arena has actually gone through considerable adjustments. The field location has actually been adjusted to accommodate the bigger pitch measurements and associated facilities, with the very first rows at each end being gotten rid of to include a prolonged playing surface area.
The underlying grass system is freshly updated and shops the normal surface area listed below ground utilizing LED lights to take care of the turf while the momentary surface area remains in location above. Behind the scenes areas such as locker spaces, medical centers and arena operations have actually likewise been broadened or re-configured, with the prolonged locker spaces extending into locations normally booked for VIP visitors to include the complete lineups.
In addition, the outside branding has actually been upgraded to show the NFL occasion and to provide the arena as an international location for sport beyond soccer. These changes highlight how the arena is placing itself not just for one soccer club however for multi-sport international occasions, marking a brand-new chapter in the Bernabéu’s history.
Source: Forbes.
