THE “insane” £1.5 billion Bernabeu renovation included a hidden network of underground tunnels and the burning of the old roof.
And the epic project even required a year of research into the sun to avoid dazzling drivers.
Real Madrid spent a fortune modernizing their iconic stadium, eventually completing the work in 2024.
Much attention has been paid to the brand new features such as the 360 degree LED scoreboard screen, the sleek steel facade and the flagship VIP hospitality suite, the SkyBar.
The field is also divided into six panels that are split and stored in an underground hypogeum in a greenhouse, only emerging on match day, in one of the most advanced pieces of architecture in the world.
Now, however, the reality of the sheer logistical ingenuity and complexity of the Bernabeu facelift has been revealed.
A National Geographic documentary – Megastructures: Real Madrid Super Stadium – followed the mammoth project, which ironically was helped immensely by the Covid pandemic.
That's because Real Madrid insisted they would continue to play at the Bernabeu for their domestic matches during the construction work.
As a result, the pitch was off limits to protect the playing surface, while all heavy machinery had to be put away to meet safety regulations with 80,000 fans in attendance – although the cranes provided surreal viewing areas for a lucky few.
So part of the early stages of the work involved digging tunnels under the stadium so that the excavators could be stored and easily reach different parts of the site.
FOOTBALL FREE BETTS AND SIGN UP DEALS
But the problem with keeping the field clear meant that work on the roof was particularly difficult as the team had to avoid it at all costs – essentially working like working on a bridge over water.
One of the first stages of the renovation was the dismantling of the old partial roof to remove it and make way for the new state-of-the-art roof.
And that meant sections were set ablaze in dazzling scenes.
Once the existing roof was completely removed, the delicate process of building a frame for the new roof took place.
Incredibly, the modern retractable roof weighs the same as two Eiffel Towers.
And there's even an inflatable cushion inside the machine – carefully programmed alongside the rest of the aviation roof – making it completely waterproof.
As the Covid pandemic worsened and Spain went into lockdown, the 2019-2020 football season was put on pause.
But for the workers, they were given the green light to continue – and they did, with a non-stop day and night operation in full swing.
And, crucially, no match allowed them to demolish the lush green field and convert it into a building site.
That paved the way for work on the revolutionary system, which involved excavating as much as 23 meters below the surface to create six levels in the ultimate Tetris underground football pitch.
A replica pitch using the same technology was designed at Los Blancos' training ground using their custom agronomic laboratory to build the replicated 'piece' structure, which was first tested by several young stars from the academy.
Real Madrid had two objectives: they wanted the very best ground in the world and they wanted to be able to store it away when it was not in use, to turn the Bernabeu into a money machine that could host events – such as Taylor Swift concerts – whenever there was no match.
Simple. Or not.
The finishing touch to the new version of the Bernabeu – ironically the first thing fans will notice when they arrive – came with the stunning exterior.
As many as 13,200 slats of uniquely designed steel were all individually crafted to create the striking appearance.
But even the steel shell required detailed research that lasted 365 days, or a full orbit around the sun.
Because the architects, designers and safety officials had to make sure it was safe.
The metal exterior catches the sun and so they had to ensure that the positioning and intensity of the bright reflections would not become dangerously hot and would not startle and dazzle drivers using the roads around the ground or become too hot.
Make no mistake: the new Bernabeu is a piece of pure design absurdity and creativity with completely insane proportions – but would you expect anything less from Real Madrid Club de Futbol?
Comments