The most important soccer stadiums in Spain

With the World Cup coming to the nation in 2030, renovation work will happen at lots of crucial Spanish soccer stadiums over the approaching years. Even at present, there are already plenty of nice venues that boast giant capacities, fashionable amenities and are able to serving up particular atmospheres.

Right here’s a rundown of the most important stadiums in Spain, based mostly on their present capacities or future capability within the case of FC Barcelona the place Camp Nou renovation work is actively ongoing.

Spanish soccer stadiums – The 5 greatest

5. La Cartuja, Seville – Capability: 57,619

Spain doesn’t have a nationwide stadium as such, however Seville’s Cartuja is the closest factor to it at the moment, as the biggest venue within the nation that isn’t a membership floor.

It was initially constructed throughout Spain’s building growth, because the venue for the 1999 Athletics World Championships. Whereas it sporadically hosted main occasions, such because the 2003 UEFA Cup ultimate (pictured under) between Porto and Celtic within the following years, Cartuja largely got here to be considered one of Spain’s least cherished soccer stadiums, with an unsightly exterior, athletics monitor and inaccessible location.

The truth is, your complete undertaking was seen as one thing of a “white elephant” given its restricted use, with town already house to 2 wonderful and far more atmospheric soccer grounds.

Lately, the Spanish soccer federation has tried to revive Cartuja and no less than make it extra related. Since 2020, it has develop into the annual venue for the Copa del Rey ultimate, and it additionally stepped in to host matches on the delayed Euro 2020.

4. Benito Villamarin, Seville – Capability: 60,721

The largest soccer floor in Seville and fourth largest of all of the LaLiga stadiums, the Benito Villamarin has been house to Actual Betis for almost a century, though it has undergone a number of main facelifts and title modifications through the years.

The newest growth noticed the demolition and subsequent growth of the South Stand, house of the infamous “Supporters Sur” ultras within the 2010’s. Accomplished in time for the 2017/18 season, the Benito Villamarin now has a capability of over 60,000.

For the reason that pandemic, Betis have all the time ranked within the prime 4 in the case of LaLiga attendances, with their giant and dependable fanbase at the moment making certain common crowds on the Benito Villamarin stand at round 50,000.

3. Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid – Capability: 70,460

Atletico Madrid made the transfer to the Estadio Metropolitano in 2017, forsaking their iconic former house within the coronary heart of the Spanish capital, to maneuver some 12 km to the east and a brand new web site on the sting of town.

Abandoning the now demolished Vicente Calderon, on the banks of Rio Manzanares, was not a simple resolution, however Atleti followers have continued to journey in huge numbers to the brand new stadium and the membership has been capable of generate a lot larger revenues in consequence.

The stadium is usually packed out for Madrid derbies and massive Champions League nights, and now boasts a capability of greater than 70,000, following latest seating growth. Whereas some Atleti supporters nonetheless miss the outdated Calderon, the membership is basically considered as having completed job of retaining the environment at their new house.

2. Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid – Capability: 81,000

Whereas they haven’t moved house, there was important redevelopment work throughout city on the Santiago Bernabeu lately.

Whereas there haven’t been important modifications when it comes to the general construction or capability of the stadium inside, the outside has been utterly redone, whereas a retractable roof has been added, as has a spectacular 360 diploma video scoreboard. The work has given the Bernabeu the texture of a contemporary NFL stadium, and it’ll certainly host NFL matches and different main sporting occasions and live shows over the approaching years.

Its main objective will after all stay being the venue for Actual Madrid house matches. Regardless of the issue of getting tickets to see Los Blancos in motion, official attendances haven’t topped 80,000 for even the most important matches since renovation was accomplished.

That has led to doubts as to the precise capability. Some sources cite a capability of 85,500, however membership president Florentino Perez claimed “On the Bernabeu now we have permission for 80,000 spectators – plus or minus 1,000” on the membership’s annual assembly in 2023.

1. Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capability: 105,000 (after renovation)

The most important stadium in Spain, and largest in Europe, might be Camp Nou when the intensive redevelopment work is lastly accomplished. Barcelona will transfer again into their iconic house in some unspecified time in the future in 2025, initially at a diminished capability whereas building work continues.

When full, the brand new Camp Nou will maintain 105,000 spectators, greater than 10,000 greater than Wembley in London which is at the moment the continent’s largest. That’s a slight improve on the capability of the outdated floor which was simply shy of 100,000.

Whereas the undertaking is predicted to value effectively over €1m, Barcelona hope they are going to in the end have one of the best stadium on the earth. The membership has enormous money owed, however ought to begin producing enormous revenues once more as soon as Camp Nou is absolutely operational, anticipated to be by the start of the 2026/27 season, though there have already been important delays.

The ten largest soccer stadiums in Spain

	Stadium	Metropolis	Membership	Capability
1.	Camp Nou	Barcelona	Barcelona*	105,000*
2.	Santiago Bernabeu	Madrid	Actual Madrid	81,000
3.	Estadio Metropolitano	Madrid	Atletico Madrid	70,560
4.	Benito Villamarin	Seville	Actual Betis	60,721
5.	La Cartuja	Seville	–	57,619
6.	San Mames	Bilbao	Athletic Membership	53,289
7.	Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys	Barcelona	Barcelona*	49,472
8.	Mestalla	Valencia	Valencia	49,419
9.	Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan	Seville	Sevilla	43,883
10.	Reale Enviornment	San Sebastian (Donostia)	Actual Sociedad	40,000

*Barcelona are enjoying on the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, which has its capability capped at just below 50,000 for soccer matches, whereas Camp Nou renovation work continues.

There are a selection of different soccer stadiums in Spain with a capability of over 40,000. The largest of these is San Mames in Bilbao, which changed the outdated San Mames which was located on the identical web site as the house of Athletic Membership in the course of the 2013/14 season. 

The outdated floor was often known as ‘La catedral’ and it performed a significant function within the development of soccer within the early days in Spain. The brand new stadium is a contemporary enviornment with a shocking exterior and it nonetheless gives arguably one of the best environment in LaLiga, whereas the decibel ranges additionally soar on massive cup nights.

Mestalla is one other of Spain’s legendary soccer grounds. Regardless of work on a Nou Mestalla commencing means again in 2007, the undertaking has been hit by quite a few delays and interruptions, and it stays unclear whether or not Valencia will in the end make the transfer away from their present house with its brilliantly steep stands that go away followers just about on prime of the pitch.

Sevilla are additionally planning main redevelopment work on the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, one other of the nation’s loudest stadiums. Actual Sociedad’s Reale Enviornment additionally simply hits 40,000 and is a much-improved venue after important work lately to cut back the hole between the stands and the pitch.

By 2030, there might be plenty of different expanded or new Spanish soccer stadiums in time for the World Cup. Grounds in A Coruña, Zaragoza, Malaga and Las Palmas might all be part of the checklist of stadiums in Spain with capacities of over 40,000 by that time.