The Madridistas have reason to be happy with the season that has passed. Winning La Liga, claiming their 15th Champions League Cup and signing mega-star Kylian Mbappé are just some of the achievements. However, the post-expansion stadium has yet to be officially opened. When will the inauguration take place and what's new in the white part of Madrid?

Who will perform at the official inauguration?

New Santiago Bernabéu stadium, which has been hosting matches during the renovation, was scheduled for completion in mid-January 2024. The modernisation work, which cost the club €1170 million, was carried out at record speed, despite the facility being used during the season.

Innovative solutions, such as a fully enclosed roof and a facade made of steel that will be used for visual projections, are expected to make the stadium one of the most modern in the world. The stadium also features an underground retractable turf to accommodate a variety of events. The turf will be stored in six segments in an underground inventory with LED lights to ensure excellent maintenance. No completion date or cost details have yet been officially confirmed by contractor FCC and Real Madrid.

Celebrities including Julio Iglesias and King Emeritus Juan Carlos I are expected to attend the inauguration, highlighting the importance of the event. More than 200 events are already planned for 2024, making the Bernabéu a key cultural and sporting centre for Madrid.

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New VIP boxes at Santiago Bernabéu

The new VIP boxes at Santiago Bernabéu stadium were designed by Room 1804 studio, and the luxury seats were originally scheduled for completion in 2022. However, due to a number of issues, including the war in Ukraine, which caused delays in material deliveries, construction was postponed by two years.

Located on the top level of the stadium, the boxes offer panoramic views of the Paseo de la Castellana and a magnificent view of the pitch. Each lodge has 200 seats and over 400 square metres of screens, providing the ultimate in comfort and entertainment.

The 700 square metre Skybar area is divided into four sections. The central section, with a large bar surrounded by racks of wine bottles, is the ideal place to relax and socialise. In addition, there is a restaurant, a disco and stands overlooking the pitch, offering an unforgettable match-watching experience. The two private terraces, each measuring 250 square metres, have been designed to ensure privacy, while allowing impressive views of the stadium and the surrounding area to be enjoyed.

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New megastore near stadium

Real Madrid's new megastore in the eastern part of Santiago Bernabéu opened its doors at the beginning of June, surprising fans with its modernity and size. Located on Padre Damián Street, the mega-store covers an area of 2,800 square metres and offers a unique shopping experience.

The shop is open daily from 10am to 9.30pm and offers a wide range of products, including exclusive clothing lines, accessories and personalisation zones where fans can tailor their purchases to their individual preferences. One of the shop's main features is a digital zone with over 40 metres of LED screens and multimedia tunnels to create an immersive team experience.

The shop opening was accompanied by the presentation of the new jersey for the 2024/2025 season, which further attracted many fans. The design of the new jersey, co-created with Adidas, combines the classic white colour with modern elements, which has won praise from fans. The shop also features various themed areas, including a click & collect section for online order collection.

On the first day of sales of the shirts for the new season, most jerseys were sold with Vinicius Junior's name and number 7 on the back. However, Real fans were already looking for a jersey of newly signed French striker Kylian Mbappé. Unfortunately, as the player is still officially a PSG player until the end of June, his name will only be put into the shop after the player's presentation at the Bernabéu.

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Metro station redevelopment

Madrid Metro has put up for sale ten plaques bearing the name of the Santiago Bernabéu metro station, which were part of the old infrastructure before the renovation. The boards quickly became the focus of interest from Real Madrid fans, and all were sold in just half an hour. Five of them, made of aluminium, marked the 10-metre line, sold for €199.95. The other five plaques, of smaller size, indicated the station exits and cost €99.95.

The sale of these historic pieces of infrastructure was to celebrate Real Madrid's 15th Champions League victory and to upgrade the metro station. The new station, which is expected to be completed by 2027, will include three times as much space as before, new entrances and many elements related to the football club. Metro de Madrid has previously sold other pieces of infrastructure, which have also been in high demand.

Fight against concerts and noise - political initiative

Residents in the neighbourhoods surrounding Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, particularly those in the El Viso and Hispanoamérica districts, are struggling to deal with the growing problem of noise and disruption associated with matches and planned concerts. The main reason for their unhappiness is the municipality's decision to allow concerts to take place in the stadium. Residents are concerned that the additional noise and crowds could negatively affect their quality of life.

Motivated by the desire for change, residents are planning to form their own political party. The aim is to run in the local elections in 2027 to gain representation on the city council and fight for their rights more effectively. To achieve this goal, they need to win around 80,000 votes, which is the 5% required to cross the electoral threshold. Their main demand is the introduction of noise-reducing regulations and a ban on stadium concerts.

Experts point out that for the movement to have a real chance of success, it should extend its demands beyond the noise issue. It is necessary for the new political party to present a broad programme that will interest a wider group of voters.

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Unforgettable concert by Argentine artist

Argentine rapper and singer Duki played a unique concert at the legendary Santiago Bernabéu stadium, thereby making history. It was one of the highlights of his career, attracting more than 65,000 fans. His performance began spectacularly just after darkness fell, when the stadium lights flickered and he appeared on stage.

During the concert, Duki performed a total of 32 songs, including hits such as Sin Culpa and Además de Mí. The audience, made up of both loyal fans and new listeners, reacted enthusiastically to each song, singing along with the artist and rewarding him with thunderous applause.

Duki was not the only star of the evening. He was joined on stage by other well-known artists such as Nicki Nicole, Rei, YSY A, Neo Pistea and Emilia Mernes. Their joint performances of the songs brought an extra dose of energy and joy, making the concert even more memorable. One of the most memorable moments was the performance of the song Mamichula together with Nicki Nicole, which caused a wave of excitement among the audience.

At the end of the evening, Duki performed his hit She Don't Give a Fo, which was met with an enthusiastic reception. The audience sang along with him and the energy in the stadium peaked. So on the one hand we have a sing-song Bernabéu, while on the other we have residents who would prefer to go to bed instead of partying. How will this dispute end? Follow our website for the latest news from Madrid and other places.