O Real Madridthe most valuable football club in the world, faces a crisis after the R$6.5 billion (1.2 billion euros) renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium became the target of a legal battle and resident revolt.
According to the Financial Timesthe project, initially celebrated as a revolution to transform the stadium into a multi-use space for concerts and events, was halted after a series of complaints about excessive noise, which led to the place being called the “torture stadium” by neighbors.
The controversy began after major shows such as Taylor Swift’s two consecutive concerts in May, which attracted more than 120,000 spectators, but also caused significant discomfort to residents of the Chamartín neighborhood.
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Claudia Martín, a local resident, compared the impact of the noise to an environmental crime. “It’s a crime, just like an oil spill at sea, only invisible,” he told Financial Times.
Pressure from community groups resulted in fines of €2.6 million (R$13.8 million) against concert organizers for violating noise regulations established by the Madrid municipality. Spanish singer Manuel Carrasco, who performed at the venue and was fined almost €400,000 (R$2.1 million), publicly declared that the problem should not be the sole responsibility of the artists: “I don’t think we, the musicians, let us be to blame.”
Millionaire structure
The renovation project, which included the installation of a retractable roof, a removable field divided into six sections and a new stainless steel facade, was designed to allow for large-scale events in addition to football matches. However, the Financial Times highlights that the structure, surrounded by residential buildings, a school and a government office, intensified the noise impact on the surrounding area.
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Ildefonso Trigueros, director of the San Agustín school, reported that prolonged rehearsals, including those by Taylor Swift, disrupted classes. “You could hear everything, the children even started to sing the songs during class,” he explained.
Real Madrid, however, argues that the fines should be applied to event promoters and not the club, as they only rent the stadium for presentations. Still, the Financial Times reports that public pressure led the club to temporarily suspend all planned shows, including a performance by Spanish pop star Lola Índigo, who had announced a concert for June 2025.
Future of the stadium
The impasse represents a blow to the club’s billion-dollar plan and to the American investment company Sixth Street, which acquired the right to participate in the Bernabéu’s profits for 20 years after investing €360 million (R$1.9 billion) in 2022. The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez, had highlighted that the new model of the stadium “would be fundamental to guarantee unique experiences throughout the year”.
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However, in a meeting with members, Pérez minimized the financial impact of the suspension of shows, stating that revenue from concerts represents just 1% of the club’s annual budget.
While the club tries to overcome the crisis, acoustic experts such as José Antonio Almagro, from the University of Granada, point out that the most viable solution would be to reduce the volume of events, as structural changes to the stadium would be complex and would compromise the current design.
