Real Madrid boasts it, Barcelona gives it up. The first 360-degree video board in a stadium appeared in the United States. In Europe, on the other hand, it has been pioneered by a rather unexpected venue. Is having a panoramic screen crucial?

Camp Nou better or cheaper?

The ideas for a new Camp Nou were.... plenty. There was also a lot of waiting for decisions, permits and, ultimately, money. However, the most turbulent time for the Blaugrana is over, and Camp Nou has been said goodbye, partially demolished and started to be raised again. Does this mean that everything is going according to plan? Many fans have noticed that the latest visualisations lack the 360 screen that was visible in previous visions. Is it just one of the minor elements of the stadium? Not necessarily.

360 scoreboards are an idea pioneered in the United States. The owners of the Los Angeles Rams, a club that plays at SoFi Stadium, have revealed that the 360-degree screen has already brought in $12 million in advertising revenue. FC Barcelona's authorities are well aware of the benefits of having such a board, as is Florentino Perez, who materialised this innovative idea at the new Bernabéu. Why did the Blaugrana abandon such a solution?

© FC Barcelona

“The board would have distracted the fans”

The case for not having a panoramic board was explained by club vice-president and spokeswoman Elena Fort. She cited concerns that such a screen would distract fans and would not provide a sufficient economic return. Barcelona does not seem to have enough funds to install the board. It's just hard to admit…

FC Barcelona fans were not fooled by the club authorities' explanations either. According to most of them, the abandonment of the 360-degree board is a mistake and a missed opportunity. It will be an aspect in which the Blaugrana will fall behind Real Madrid, who already have their screen. And it is an element that has reverberated around the football world.

Stadium galacticos

The most impressive element of the interior of the Bernabéu is 100% complete! Will it revolutionise the matchday experience in LaLiga? The inclusion of a 360-degree screen inside the stadium has been highly anticipated by Los Blancos' fans, and no wonder - the board catches the eye in photos and is even more impressive when seen in person.

This element of the stadium has contributed immeasurably to the current cost of investment in the new Bernabéu, which has risen to as much as €2 billion during construction. The change from the initial assumptions - €300-400 million in early estimates and €575 million at the start of the project - is very significant. With such expenditure, this will be one of the most expensive stadium upgrades ever. And it doesn't end there - work is also underway on the Santiago Bernabéu Metro and the stadium's food and beverage area.

© Madrid1902

Second in Europe

Is Madrid's stadium the first in Europe with a 360-degree screen? No! The first venue equipped with such a solution is the arena of Russian club FK Krasnodar. In this stadium, comfort is key, hence the attention to detail. An example is the painted reinforced concrete under the seats - light grey in the first rows and increasingly darker higher up, and consequently almost black at the top of the stands.

As a result, the concrete structure almost blends with the most spectacular part of the stadium - the panoramic screen that surrounds the entire stands. With an area of more than 4,800 square metres, it is the largest stadium screen in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Synchronised with the lighting, it allows the atmosphere inside the stadium to change dynamically.

© FK Krasnodar