For residents living near Santiago Bernabéu, June was a difficult month due to the organization of many non-sporting events at Real Madrid's stadium. Numerous complaints were lodged, prompting the club to enter negotiations with neighbors to find a solution to this problem.

Real begins negotiations

Real Madrid appointed Emilio Butragueño, Director of Institutional Relations, to lead negotiations with the concerned parties. After the first meeting, which did not satisfy anyone, the former footballer requested that the club allocate six months to implement necessary measures to complete the work and reduce the acoustic impact of non-sporting events at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

Elcierredigital.com contacted the president and secretary of the Neighborhood Association for the Defense of the Environment and Against the Tunnel from Padre Damián to Paseo de la Habana to learn about the current situation: Real Madrid is asking for six months, not to complete any work, but to gain time and be able to organize all the scheduled concerts, they say.

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Neighbors take matters into their own hands

Residents of the area organized several meetings and appealed to the Madrid City Council to take appropriate actions to mitigate these inconveniences. The land occupied by Santiago Bernabéu stadium is designated exclusively for sports use, with the possibility of using 25% of its total area for other purposes. Moreover, we were promised that the stadium would be significantly soundproofed, which has not been done, emphasize the residents.

On May 19, 2022, Real Madrid signed an agreement with the American company Sixth Street, which organizes various events worldwide. Under the agreement, the club committed to hosting between 340 and 360 events at Santiago Bernabéu. The agreement is valued at €360 million and accounts for up to 30% of the venue's revenue. Santiago Bernabéu has become Florentino Pérez's auditorium, say representatives of the Neighborhood Association. Real Madrid cannot soundproof the stadium for a simple reason – it is not enclosed and does not have air conditioning. They are deceiving us.

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Neighborhood has deteriorated?

The lack of air conditioning in the stadium poses a significant challenge for the soundproofing project. Residents of Chamartín regularly measure the noise levels during events at the venue. The results? 85 and 90 decibels right next to the building façades and 45 and 50 decibels inside buildings with closed windows. According to Madrid regulations, the permissible noise levels in residential areas are 45 decibels during the day and 35 decibels at night. In bedrooms, the limits are 40 decibels during the day and 30 decibels at night.

Noise is not the only problem affecting the neighborhood. The area has also become more dangerous, with several robberies occurring. Above all, it is much dirtier. A few days before these concerts, young people camp around the stadium to be among the first to get into the event. This means that these people relieve themselves at doors, on stairs, and at entrances to parking lots and garages, say disgusted residents.

© Madrid1902