Atlético Madrid Reveal New Stadium Plans

President, Enrique Cerezo, has initiated palns for a new Atlético Madrid’s 70,000-capacity stadium at La Peineta in the San Blas area of the city, which is set to replace the Vicente Calderón as their home from 2015.

Atlético’s current ground has room for 55,000 spectators and has been used by Los Colchoneros since October, 1966, but the new stadium will eventually have a 73,000 capacity after it has been expanded.

The first phase in the building of La Peineta is already underway: at the moment it is used for athletics and can accommodate 20,000 people and, according to the city’s ruling council, part of one of the stands will be demolished along with two floodlights while a number of walkways, perimeter walls and the athletics track will also be ripped up. Initially expected to be ready for the 2010/11 season, work on the new project has suffered a number of delays in recent years due to finance, but was formally approved on September 28.

At a ceremony in the city attended by the present squad and former Atlético greats such as Abelardo Rodríguez, Luis Aragonés, Luiz Pereira, Luis Reina and Kiko, Cerezo called it one of the most important days in history of the club.

He said: “This is an important day and I would say it is one of the most important in the history of this club. It is the beginning of a dream. Atlético hopes to create an unmistakable icon for the club and the city of Madrid.

“It will be a sign of identity and will provide the city with a new architectural symbol that in the future may become the home of the Olympic Games. There are not many times one has the opportunity to live a historical moment as relevant in the life of a sports club as this.”

On completion, La Peineta will be equipped with the best infrastructure and technology available and will hold concerts and major international sporting events with facilities expected to include: a state-of-the-art security system, escalators and elevators around the stadium perimeter on eight levels, meeting and conference areas, a clubhouse, an 18-hole golf course, swimming pools and paddle tennis courts. Supporters will also be able to take advantage of improved access points, nearby suburban and metro stations, parking for over 3,000 cars, commercial areas, specially adapted disabled areas, VIP rooms, private boxes, restaurants and fan zones.

Atlético are hoping to play at least one game there before the end of the 2014-15 season, while moving in permanently for the start of the following campaign, and confirmation of the move follows Madrid’s failed bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. However, the stadium will be presented as the focal point of the Spanish capital’s bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, when it will face competition from Doha, Istanbul, Baku, Rome and Tokyo.