It’s little wonder Real Madrid want the Bernabeu roof closed as they urge their fans to generate a white hot atmosphere to intimidate Manchester City.
UEFA has granted Real dispensation to shut the roof for Tuesday night’s showdown with fans urged to turn up dressed in white.
The sliding roof quite literally caps off a spectacular renovation project which has brought one of football’s most iconic and historic venues into the 21st century.
It didn’t come cheap, with the latest interim accounts of the 14-time European champions showing project costs at £1.51billion, including interest on the three separate loans taken out to finance it.
But Real believe their 83,186-capacity arena, which now boasts a retractable pitch, 360-degree video screen, skywalk and exclusive nightclub, will quickly pay for itself.
The Santiago Bernabeu roof will be closed as Real Madrid prepare to host Manchester City
City will play at the stunning new Bernabeu, which has cost Real £1.5billion to transform
City thrashed Real 5-1 on aggregate in last season’s semi-finals en route to winning the trophy
Taylor Swift will perform two dates on her Eras Tour in late May – leading to a bit of LaLiga fixture reshuffling – while a regular season NFL game is scheduled there next year.
Real’s president Florentino Perez has assured members the loan repayments, spread over 30 years, will be ‘less than half of the annual profits that we plan to obtain after the completion of the works.’
The Spanish giants set out to construct the ‘digital stadium of the future’ at the start of the century. Covid-19 and supply chain delays caused by the Ukraine war delayed completion, but the results are spectacular.
With the height of the whole stadium raised by 10 metres, the stainless steel retractable roof – closed for their Champions League last-16 game with RB Leipzig – is supported by 12 enormous trusses which weigh 50 tons each.
Just below that, wrapping around the exterior of the stadium is the 800-metre long SkyWalk.
The outdoor 6,000 square meter terrace will offer fans panoramic views of the Madrid skyline.
Tucked just inside the roof is the area Real regard as the ‘crown jewel’ of their development – the Skybar and nightclub, set to open later this year, which will be among the most exclusive tickets in football.
Taylor Swift is set to perform two concerts at the Bernabeu at the end of May
Real set out to transform their Bernabeu home into ‘the digital stadium of the future’
Drone footage released by the club showed the Bernabeu’s stainless steel retractable roof
The 800-metre long SkyWalk, wrapped around the top of the stadium, seen in construction
Fans inside the Bernabeu watch a league match in January with the roof closed
Accommodating 200 VIP guests, the huge lounge is split into four areas once guests have walked through a neon tunnel designed to ‘evoke the emblematic skyscrapers of Madrid.’
There is a restaurant at one end and a nightclub at the other, so guests can continue partying well after the final whistle, with an oval-shaped bar finished in marble and bronze, in the centre.
Those lucky enough to have a ticket – and Real haven’t yet revealed the price list – can watch the action from a tiered seating area, which includes couches and drinks tables.
Huge LED screens on the wall and ceiling allow all kinds of images to be projected depending on the ambience and DJs will be invited to perform sets.
The designs released for Real’s exclusive SkyBar, a hospitality area that becomes a nightclub
The luxury VIP area at the top of the Bernabeu stadium has room for 200 guests, who’ll enjoy the best seats in the house
While there will be large windows facing onto the Bernabeu pitch, panoramic views of the city of Madrid are also available
Fans will be able to view the football from the oval-shaped bar, made of marble and bronze, and featuring bottles on display
Away from matchdays, the Skybar will be hired out as a business space for 500 people and will open up as a bar and restaurant in the evenings, as well as being a stop-off on the Bernabeu tour.
The retractable pitch – an idea borrowed from the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – can be operated with just the touch of a button.
The club have installed air conditioning, LED lighting and ultraviolet light therapy to keep the playing surface in pristine condition.
It enables the area to host other events, such as concerts, without causing damage to the pitch.
Real are determined to take revenge on reigning European champions City ahead of their much-anticipated quarter-final tie.
Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed them 5-1 on aggregate in last season’s semi-finals, with the first leg at the Bernabeu ending 1-1 before City memorably crushed them 4-0 at the Etihad.