From 24 to 31 December, Real Madrid’s stadium will turn into a spectacular family Christmas park, offering light projections, music, workshops and attractions in the heart of Chamartín.

Christmas like never before at Bernabéu

Every winter, places such as Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Disneyland Paris or Santa’s Wonderland in Texas become global references for Christmas atmosphere. This year, an unexpected venue joins that list: Santiago Bernabéu. The Madrid arena will open its doors and, for eight days, turn into a huge glowing snow globe – as the club itself described it.

Real Madrid announced that from 24 to 31 December the stadium will become a fully family-oriented space with illuminations, music, shows, workshops and traditional festive gastronomy. Football will return to the Bernabéu on 4 January. The club announced that tickets for the Madrid Bernabéu park will go on sale on 7 November. Prices and specific entry schedules have not yet been revealed. It is expected that entries will be divided into time slots.

© Javier Caireta-Serra

Bernabéu versus Metropolitano

The Madrid Bernabéu format is also part of a new form of local rivalry. As promised a year ago, Madrid On Ice returns to Estadio Metropolitano. In last year’s edition, which lasted only 16 days, the ice rink was visited by more than 100,000 people. This time the event will run from 22 December to 11 January, covering the Christmas period and the start of the New Year. This year’s ice surface will have 4,200 m² (4,760 last year), but its capacity remains unchanged – 1,500 skaters can be on it at the same time.

Real’s move is therefore not only a Christmas attraction, but a real economic duel for the winter wallet of the fan. Limited by the noise problem and the inability to open a full concert calendar at the Bernabéu, the club seeks revenue through a technological show and immersive projections. As a result, both stadiums will fight for the same audience in December and January – and for the first time it will not be goals deciding, but where fans, locals and tourists decide to spend their money.+

© Madrid1902

Technology, projection and visual effect as main strength

The strongest highlight of the programme will be the official premiere of video mapping on the stadium’s façade. The system makes it possible to display images, animations and historical material on the external skin of the Bernabéu. In recent weeks, the club has carried out night tests – showing, among others, the Real Madrid flag waving, key goals and players’ silhouettes. The visual effect was sharp and smooth.

The implementation of this technology was possible thanks to the creation of a new event control room, the extension of the operational units area, and the use of dedicated software managing the projection system.