San Mames stadium information – LaLiga Skilled

Athletic Membership are one of many best-supported groups in LaLiga, and journeys to Bilbao provide a singular expertise for even probably the most well-travelled soccer aficionados. Our San Mames stadium information gives you the lowdown on considered one of Spanish soccer’s most atmospheric grounds.

Athletic Membership stadium historical past

If you realize something about Spanish soccer historical past, you’ll know that its roots can largely be traced to the Basque Nation, with Athletic Membership the dominant power throughout its early years.

The staff performed on the previous San Mames, affectionately generally known as “La Catedral”, for 100 years between 1913 and 2013. Whereas it underwent in depth renovation work within the Fifties and once more within the early Nineteen Eighties forward of the 1982 World Cup, the previous stadium was a legendary place that was revered by Athletic supporters and an enormous a part of Spanish soccer heritage.

Work on the brand new San Mames, constructed instantly adjoining to the previous floor, started in 2010, and for various seasons its building may very well be seen rising past the historic previous stadium the place Athletic continued to play their dwelling video games till the top of the 2012/13 marketing campaign.

Los Leones performed their first match within the new stadium in September 2013, a 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo, though it wasn’t till August 2014 that the brand new San Mames was accomplished and operational at full capability.

San Mames immediately

• Handle: P.º Rafael Moreno “Pitxitxi”, s/n, Basurto-Zorroza, 48013 Bilbao, Biscay
• Capability: 53,289
• Athletic Membership common attendance: 48,341 (LaLiga 2024/25)

The San Mames capability immediately is over 50,000, and with Athletic doing nicely on the pitch and on track for Champions League soccer within the 2025/26 season, large matches incessantly promote out.

The stadium encompasses a gorgeous fashionable exterior and is positioned barely nearer to the banks of town’s River Nervion than its predecessor, making it a putting addition to the Bilbao skyline which additionally options the long-lasting Guggenheim Museum, town’s hottest vacationer attraction.

The place is San Mames?

The San Mames stadium has a riverside location within the coronary heart of Bilbao, making it accessible by foot from most central lodges, hostels and guesthouses, whereas town’s predominant practice station (Bilbao-Abando) is round a 30-minute stroll away with rail hyperlinks to cities throughout Spain.

Bilbao’s previous city (Casco Viejo) is round 35 minutes stroll from the stadium, however for those who don’t fancy getting there by foot, San Mames metro station is positioned only a stone’s throw from the stadium with connections to stops throughout town, in addition to the broader Bilbao metropolitan space.

Town’s predominant bus station (Bilbao Intermodal) is positioned solely 300 metres from the stadium, with common connections to Madrid and plenty of different Spanish cities.

Matchday at San Mames

Athletic Membership tickets

Tickets for dwelling matches may be purchased on-line through the ticketing web page on the membership’s web site. In concept, Athletic Membership ticket costs begin at round €30 for much less glamorous league fixtures, nevertheless present demand is excessive, and it’s possible you’ll find yourself needing to pay considerably greater than that to safe a seat.

In accordance with the membership, “on-line ticket gross sales normally begin on the Monday morning three weeks earlier than every match at 10:30 CET”. In the meantime, ticket places of work do open on matchday itself, in addition to the day earlier than, though larger video games might already be offered out by that time.

You should still have some luck getting VIP tickets in such circumstances, though be ready to pay a number of hundred Euros for these.

Inside the bottom

The roof of San Mames was prolonged in 2016, providing shelter from the frequent rain that pours down within the Basque Nation. That helps to include the noise, with Athletic dwelling video games normally loud and passionate affairs.

The stadium absolutely encircles the pitch, with secure standing rail seats put in within the decrease tier of the North Stand which is formally designated because the “singing part” and usually homes numerous younger Athletic followers who lead the singing on matchdays.

There’s little else to tell apart the 4 stands from one another, with the two-tiered design easy however efficient. The San Mames away part is positioned within the southeast nook of the stadium, within the second tier, with away groups in European competitions usually getting round 2,500 tickets.

The stadium can even host the 2025 Europa League last, with the 2 finalists set to stand up to fifteen,000 tickets every in accordance with UEFA.

Exterior the bottom

Should you’re fortunate sufficient to safe San Mames tickets, you’ll be able to pattern the pre-match ambiance on the spacious concourse across the floor the place followers are inclined to congregate.

Athletic supporters additionally incessantly line the vigorous Calle Poza within the build-up and aftermath of matches. It’s the proper place to combine with locals for some pre or post-game beers and pintxos, and the road conveniently leads on to San Mames from the center of Bilbao, with the stadium coming into view as you progress additional down it.

Bilbao is a football-mad metropolis, and at the same time as you head additional away from the stadium, you’ll encounter streets, residence buildings, bars and eating places filled with Athletic scarves, flags and memorabilia.

Soccer journeys to Bilbao

Stadium excursions & extra

A visit to the Athletic Membership museum is a worthwhile addition to any soccer journey to Bilbao, given the huge historical past of a membership that is still “distinctive on this planet” as a result of its coverage of solely signing gamers from the Basque Nation.

A self-guided museum and San Mames tour prices an affordable €15, however you’ll want a cell phone and your personal headphones to get audio commentary. You can even comply with a guided tour for €22, with visits anticipated to final round 90 minutes in each circumstances. Head to gates 19 and 20 at San Mames to begin.

Should you’ve caught a match and accomplished an Athletic Membership stadium tour, Bilbao continues to be an awesome metropolis to go to, with a lot to see and do. A visit up the mountain on the Funicular de Artxanda cable automotive is very advisable and can provide gorgeous views of town, whereas the Casco Viejo is Bilbao’s historic centre.

Larger teams searching for an additional dose of soccer, may need to attempt their palms at Bubble Soccer which is a enjoyable expertise and may be performed at a number of areas within the Bizkaia province.

Different native golf equipment

There’s additionally a thriving decrease league scene within the Bilbao space and throughout the Basque Nation, and it’s possible you’ll need to catch an additional sport whereas visiting town.

Within the Segunda Division, Eibar are positioned lower than 50 km from Bilbao, midway to San Sebastian which is dwelling to Athletic’s predominant rivals Actual Sociedad, whereas you can even catch top-flight motion within the wider area in Vitoria (Alaves) or Pamplona (Osasuna).

Within the Spanish third tier, there are at the moment 4 groups from Bizkaia, together with Athletic’s B staff who play on the membership’s well-known Lezama coaching base, the breeding floor for most of the membership’s present and former stars. Barakaldo and Sestao River are additionally positioned alongside the Estuary of Bilbao and simply reached through town’s public transport, whereas Amorebieta are positioned solely round 20 km away.

You can even discover fourth-tier soccer by taking in a house sport of 1919 Copa del Rey winners Arenas Membership de Getxo, accessible by a 20-minute metro trip from the centre of Bilbao.