The fight between large concert halls to gain popularity and host the best shows is more alive than ever. , which will allow its maximum capacity to be increased from 17,453 to 20,008 spectators in concerts and up to 15,000 in basketball in view of the celebration of Eurobasket 2029. This growth will allow the old WiZink Center to surpass other pavilions with which it competes in the category venue indoor —closed venues for concerts and events, not a stadium or outdoor space, such as the Palau Sant Jordi (17,960) or the Roig Arena (20,000).
“The growth in capacity is decisive for programming, international artists need large spaces,” explains the CEO of the Movistar Arena, Manuel Saucedo. Thanks to the increase in its capacity, the pavilion will be able to consolidate its third position in the world ranking. World 200 World Arenasfrom the international magazine Pollstarwhich is also the first venue in Europe in number of events held and tickets sold.
The announcement was made during the institutional visit that toured the Movistar Arena facilities, together with the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports, Mariano de Paco and Borja Ochoa, president of Telefónica Spain, as well as other representatives of sponsoring companies. During the visit, those responsible for the venue detailed to the leader of the Madrid Executive the operational and security improvements that will allow the capacity to be expanded.
In addition, the latest innovations incorporated into the premises have been shown, which include solar panels on the roof and complete management of the building with renewable energy; LED lighting throughout the premises; security systems with state-of-the-art cameras; the sound equipment used by great tours such as U2, Paul McCartney or Ac/Dc; its own sound monitoring and soundproofing system; as well as a millimetric 5G connectivity service thanks to Telefónica, main sponsor of the Movistar Arena.
Along with the announcement of the future capacity expansion, the results of the Economic Impact Study of the Movistar Arena in the Community of Madrid in 2024, carried out by OJD, the auditor of the advertising sector, have also been presented, which confirm the role of the venue as a “regional economic engine”. Its activity has generated 577 million euros of economic impact, 1.7% of the region’s cultural GDP; and has contributed to the creation of more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Díaz Ayuso has highlighted the relevance of this data for the region: “The Movistar Arena is an icon on the world map of music, entertainment and sport. It is a key piece of our economy, capable of projecting the image and name of the Community of Madrid to the entire planet. These are not just numbers. We also talk about the impact of the Movistar Arena on the lives of many Madrid residents and their families.”
Regarding the cultural offer of the venue, Xavier Bartrolí, president of Impulsa Eventos e Instalaciones, management company of the Movistar Arena; and Manuel Saucedo, CEO, have announced that the Movistar Arena will close in 2025 with a total of 230 events, of which 157 are concerts and 64 sporting events. Among them are Ovo, from El Circo del Sol; Eric Clapton, four Aitana or Mora shows; three from Leiva or Pablo Alborán; and the return of Hijos de la Ruina or La Oreja de Van Gogh, among many others yet to be announced.
