Real Madrid has suspended all concerts scheduled at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu at least until March. The decision came after increasing complaints about noise and debris.

Authorities are pleased with Real Madrid's decision

The first event affected is the festival that was to take place on October 12, promoted as the largest K-Pop event in the world. Other cancelled concerts include Dellafuente (November 15), Aitana (December 28), and Lola Índigo (March 22). Both the mayor of Madrid and the president of the region expressed satisfaction that the club agreed not to organize large-scale musical events, considering the noise-related complaints from the neighborhood. This decision followed increasing pressure from residents, who complained about noise and crowds on the streets around the stadium. In May, the City Police recorded noise levels exceeding legal limits.

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Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, in an interview with Antena 3, emphasized that Real Madrid cooperated and thanked the club for making a difficult decision from both an economic and social perspective. He added that the City Council has always worked to find the best solution. For a long time, both publicly and privately, we asked Real Madrid to take these measures, so I’m glad they did and that they plan to work on soundproofing the stadium, he added.

Madrid Community President Isabel Díaz Ayuso also expressed support for Real Madrid’s decision to suspend concerts at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, praising the club for its responsible stance. Ayuso, however, hopes that necessary renovations will be carried out as quickly as possible. During her speech at the ABC Forum, she emphasized that Real Madrid does a lot for Madrid and Spain, adding that the club is one of the best ambassadors, and having the best stadium in the world in the capital is a source of pride.

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The case goes to court

We are still David against Goliath, said José Manuel Paredes from the Association of Those Affected by Bernabéu. We didn’t have support from either the City Council or the Community. The mayor claimed that concerts are a priority for Madrid’s image and that there are no other problems except residents’ complaints, added a Chamartín resident.

Recently, it was announced that a criminal complaint was filed against Bernabéu’s administrator, José Ángel Sánchez, accusing him of environmental crimes. The lawsuit, accepted by the Administrative Court No. 53 in Madrid, means that Sánchez will testify in court on October 29. The complaint stated that concerts violated construction permits, including soundproofing requirements. It also alleged that Real Madrid did not conduct noise emission studies.

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Can the stadium be fully soundproofed?

According to information from Relevo, Real Madrid plans to work on solutions to reduce noise levels. Although full soundproofing is impossible, measures to lower decibel levels to comply with regulations are being considered. One problem is the gaps between the slats forming the stadium's outer layer, which could potentially be sealed. However, fully closing these spaces is impossible, as they are part of the design, ensuring proper ventilation. Closing the retractable roof would not solve the problem either, as experts say it could increase noise.

Real Madrid also plans to explore alternative solutions in the coming months to improve insulation of the stadium’s open spaces. Proposed solutions include installing acoustic shields, increasing the number of tarps, and reducing speaker power. During Romeo Santos' concert, the speaker volume was lowered, but residents reported that the effect was insufficient.

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