Real Madrid: The new Bernabéu, updates on stadium's progress
Images taken from inside the stadium show how work is progressing on the inside with much of the seating now removed and half of the pitch turf lifted.
Work on the new Bernabéu continues at a frenetic pace. Work on the exterior of the stadium has been progressing for some time with the installation of the towers which will support the new, retractable roof; now we have been able to take a closer look at how work on the inside of the stadium is coming along. In the brief video clip which accompanies this article, we can see how half of the pitch has been lifted, as well as the seating area on the stand which backs onto Paseo de la Castellana which has now been completely removed as has the canopy covering on that part of the ground. Most of the pitch is now a temporary stop-off point for trucks and diggers on their way in and out of the stadium.
All of the seating, the famous blue seats, will be removed and replaced with wider, more comfortable seating so that fans can enjoy the game in greater comfort. Seating at both sides of the ground are now gone as are the seating areas in the first rows right the way around the ground - in some areas, on the concrete terracing remains. The club has also approved the installation of a retractable structure which will enable the pitch to be replaced between games and change the surface so that the Bernabéu can quickly and easily be converted into a venue to stage other events such as concerts, congresses or even exhibitions. That will give the club the chance to use their stadium in other ways to increase revenue apart from football. The retractable pitch isn't a new idea - Schalke have one in place at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, where Raúl spent two happy and successful seasons between 2010 and 2012.
It's a real eye opener to see how work has progressed in just a couple of months which means the remodelling project is already way ahead of schedule and the new Bernabéu could be ready by the start of 2022 - almost one year ahead of the original deadline. Real Madrid are almost certainly going to play of their home games in 2020 in Valdebebas and that will help FCC, the construction firm in charge of delivering the new stadium, time they didn't envisage having to finish off Real Madrid state-of-the-art home.