"New stadium will see us grow, but we'll keep Calderón spirit"
4,500 fans have already snapped up seasons tickets ahead of Atlético Madrid's move to their new ground next season, but many are feeling mixed emotions about leaving the Calderón
The Atlético Madrid ticket office, at gate 32 in the Vicente Calderón, is more than a little busy at the moment. The big move to the new stadium is now in full swing, with more than 500 fans passing through the office’s doors every day to renew their season ticket for next season: the first ever in La Peineta.
The newly constructed ground will open its doors for the first game of LaLiga 2017-2018 next August, and already more than 4,500 supporters have chosen their seat since tickets went on sale at the end of July.
Nostalgia and excitement
There are mixed feelings about leaving the Calderón, of course: sadness as well as excitement. But one emotion that everyone is clear about is how much they’ll miss the historic ground. “There’s a strange feeling coming here now,” one fan who was renewing their ticket told AS. “It’s the last year that we’ll be here, there’s a lot of nostalgia.”
Despite the wistfulness, most fans are also positive about the move to their new home. “It seems good to me. The stadium looks incredible and it’s a necessary step forward,” expressed another fan while choosing his new seat.
Champions League final bid
But what’s the biggest wish he has for the ground? Just one thing, plain and simple: The Champions League final to be staged there, and for Atléti to finally win it. “I can imagine it. It was difficult to do so before, but now not so much now, we’ve experienced it over the last few seasons. I hope it happens; that they give us the final. We deserve it and I hope Atléti can play in it.”
"The move won't change our spirit"
And what of the famous Vicente Calderón atmosphere? Can fans replicate the noise created at the old amphitheatre in the brand-new stands of La Peineta? One fan told AS that the move wouldn’t change a thing: the spirit will remain the same, the fans will always stand with the players, will always stick to together, and will always be Atléti.
“[The move] won’t change our spirit, but it will modernise the club and make us grow. It’s going to have a very positive influence in terms of competing with biggest teams.”