San Mamés – stadium description

Why was San Mamés built?

Athletic Club played for most of its history at the old San Mamés stadium, which had been modernized several times since its opening in 1913. The last major renovation took place in 1982 for the FIFA World Cup. However, by the 1990s, plans for a new stadium began to emerge because the old one was becoming outdated, with insufficient safety measures and accessibility. Additionally, UEFA started implementing stricter regulations, such as eliminating standing terraces and improving access for people with disabilities.

In the 1990s, Bilbao authorities began urban modernization projects, during which Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava proposed building a new football stadium at this location with a preliminary design. This proposal was rejected since city officials did not want a stadium in that part of the city. Another proposal came from Norman Foster, a famous British architect, who designed a 55,000-seat stadium with a shopping center and office building under the stands, planned on the site of a former market. This project also failed due to architectural issues.

In the early 2000s, the then club president Javier Uría seriously considered building a new stadium on the former market grounds. Studies and feasibility analyses were conducted. The initial design was presented to club members, who approved it, starting the process that led to the new stadium.

How was San Mamés constructed?

In 2004, Athletic Club’s board started work on the new San Mamés stadium. The location was the old market hall area in Bilbao, which lost importance after the construction of the BEC (Bizkaia Exhibition Center). In 2006, the city changed the zoning plan to reserve space for the new stadium. The stadium was planned to hold 50–55,000 spectators and cover a larger area than its predecessor.

In 2007, the San Mamés Barria company was formed, including Athletic Club, BBK, and the Bizkaia Provincial Council. That year, César Azkarate’s project was presented, featuring a modern stadium with a lit glass facade and a capacity of 56,000. The design was approved by socios (club members).

Due to the 2008 economic crisis, the project was simplified: some stands and the glass facade were removed, reducing capacity to 53,000. Despite controversies, construction began in 2010, with the first phase completed in summer 2013.

When was San Mamés inaugurated?

San Mamés officially opened on September 16, 2013, at 10:00 PM during the fourth round match of the 2013/14 La Liga season, where Athletic Club faced RC Celta de Vigo. About ten minutes before kickoff, a ceremony took place: club president Josu Urrutia entered the pitch accompanied by captains of all Athletic teams, led by Carlos Gurpegui and Iraia Iturregi, welcomed with applause by both teams. The youngest captain placed a piece of turf from the old stadium at the center circle and received a commemorative plaque. Then, everyone moved to the tunnel for an honorary aurresku dance. Urrutia also laid flowers at the bust of the legendary Rafael Moreno Pichichi. The ceremony ended with a joint raising of the Athletic flag on a mast at the corner of the south stand, which was partially unfinished; the last to raise the flag was Carlos Gurpegui.

The first goal in the new stadium was scored by Celta’s Charles Dias in the 14th minute. Athletic equalized through Mikel San José, and in the second half, Andoni Iraola and Beñat Etxebarria scored, giving the hosts a 3–1 lead. Santi Mina scored for Celta making it 3–2, but Athletic won the match.

Full stadium capacity was officially available by summer 2014 before the UEFA Champions League match against SSC Napoli, though some works were still unfinished.

What does San Mamés look like?

San Mamés was designed to preserve and enhance the distinctive sound atmosphere created by the local fans’ chants. Externally, it has a classic football stadium look but hides much more than just stands. Beneath it are extensive facilities covering 5,434 m², co-funded by the Basque Government. These do not affect the exterior or significantly raise costs as they are invisible from the street.

The underground area hosts a modern municipal sports complex opened in 2019, featuring exercise rooms, a sauna, Turkish bath, spa, and two swimming pools—one Olympic-sized and one for children. It also includes an athletics module with a 60-meter track and equipment for jumps and throws, though the original plan for a full-size track was abandoned. San Mamés also houses a Sports Innovation Center and a Sports Medicine Center supporting athlete development. The stadium includes four locker rooms, 40 offices, 48 VIP boxes, a club museum by gate 20, an official store, a high-end restaurant, an external LED screen, a sports bar, and a traditional tavern overlooking the pitch.

The external look is complemented by an advanced façade lighting system, which can program the illumination of hundreds of white panels to shine uniformly or display dynamic graphics, such as after a goal or UEFA Champions League star motifs—similar to Munich’s Allianz Arena. The stadium is situated closer to the Nervión River on a high bank, giving it an impressive, picturesque character, especially visible at night when lit.

Since 2015, a large external video screen (15.5 x 9.8 m) is located where the club’s old crest once was, facing Pozas Street—a popular walk route with bars frequented by Athletic fans. In 2019, special safe-standing barriers were installed in the north stand and expanded in 2022 to the entire lower sector, creating a singing fans sector. In 2023, during the club’s 125th anniversary, subtle lines marking the old pitch’s goal lines and a monument to club appearance record-holder José Ángel Iribar were unveiled.

What problems did San Mamés have and how were they solved?

Problems mainly concerned insufficient protection from rain during matches, which fans often complained about. To solve this, Athletic Bilbao decided to expand the stadium roof to cover a larger area, improving shelter for spectators. Work began in May 2016, and the new larger roof was completed by autumn that year. The project, fully financed by the club at a cost of about €13 million, won an engineering award in 2017. This effectively addressed the rain issue, enhancing fan comfort.

What is San Mamés used for?

San Mamés primarily serves as Athletic Bilbao’s home football stadium, hosting league and cup matches. It also functions as a sports and recreational center, offering facilities like the municipal sports complex with gyms, sauna, spa, pools, and innovation and sports medicine centers. It hosts cultural events, concerts, and sports other than football, such as rugby finals. The stadium is a community hub integrating sport, culture, and recreation.

What sporting events have taken place at San Mamés?

The stadium has hosted numerous league, cup, and international matches for both men’s and women’s Athletic teams. In May 2018, it hosted the European rugby finals—EPCR Challenge Cup and Investec Champions Cup—and will again host them in 2026. It was also the start location for stages of the Spanish cycling race La Vuelta a España in 2019 and 2022. Although planned as a UEFA Euro 2020 venue, Bilbao lost hosting rights due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

What non-sporting events have taken place at San Mamés?

San Mamés has hosted concerts by famous artists and bands such as Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, and Fito & Fitipaldis, attracting thousands of spectators. Thanks to modern infrastructure and excellent acoustics, it is popular for large musical and cultural events. The stadium also offers restaurants, sports bars, and other amenities that support social and community events, making it a gathering place for sports and culture fans alike.

What awards has San Mamés received?

San Mamés has received numerous prestigious awards. In 2015, the new San Mamés took second place in the global Stadium of the Year poll, organized at the time by StadiumDB.com and Stadiony.net. The vote reached a record scale – over 96,000 people from 136 countries participated, awarding points to their five favourite stadiums opened that year. San Mamés received more than 96,000 points, finishing just behind Allianz Parque in São Paulo. Also in 2015, it was named the world’s best sports building at the World Architecture Festival. It was the first stadium in Europe to obtain the LEED sustainable building certification. The roof construction by Inbisa Construcción won the best facade and roof structure award at the third Ache engineering awards.

In 2017, it was recognized as the safest stadium in Europe, receiving the UNE 179.003 patient safety certificate from DNV GL, renewed in 2019. That same year, it was chosen as the world’s best stadium at the World Football Summit in Madrid. The roof, designed by Idom, won the international Structural Awards in the Grandes Luces category for outstanding structural engineering projects. In 2020, it ranked ninth on France Football’s list of the world’s 30 most vibrant stadiums and won the World Design Awards for sports and recreational facilities. On January 30, 2019, San Mamés set a Spanish attendance record for a women’s match, gathering 48,121 fans during the Copa de la Reina quarterfinal between Athletic Club and Atlético de Madrid, which was also the second-highest worldwide attendance for such competitions.

How San Mamés compares to other LaLiga stadiums?