Real Madrid to try out the Bernabéu’s new retractable roof for the first time
As the first rain fell on the capital in months, Madrid plan to close the retractable roof of the Bernabéu for the first time in this afternoon’s game against Getafe.
The new Bernabéu makes its debut of the new season later today with many of the new stadium’s improvements already in use ahead of Getafe’s visit. The first rain since the summer started fell on the capital this morning and more showers are expected. That is as good a reason as any for the club to try out the stadium’s new retractable roof - one of the more striking new features of the white coliseum.
Madrid, AS understands, plan to play this afternoon’s league match against Getafe under cover due to the possibility of rain. The weather forecast from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) predicts a 30% chance of rain showers in Madrid capital, 16 litres of rain per square metre, on Saturday between 15:00 and 18:00 hours, when the match will be played (kick-off is at 16:15 hours). The city will be on alert between 00:00 and 20:00 for intense rainfall and storms that could be accompanied by hail.
The DANA weather front will travel through the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands from Saturday to Monday and as a result, could force one of the jewels of the new Bernabéu to be shown off earlier than expected. Madrid tested the cover closing mechanism on Monday. An operation that is completed in just 15 minutes. Materials used in the aerospace industry have been used for the construction of the structure.
Neither the fans (the vast majority of the Bernabéu seats are already well protected from rain thanks to the cover that was built on the east side in the last great remodelling project, completed in 2006) nor the players will get soaked if the rain hits La Castellana around the Chamartín district this afternoon.
The cover will be one of the many novelties that fans will find in a new Bernabéu, whose development is advanced with many new features compared to last season. Several zones now have new seating installed. The upper and lower stands at the south end, where the Fans Stand is located, as well as many of the VIP boxes, are accessible again and part of the new giant video scoreboards can be seen… Numerous amenities that fans and players will be able to enjoy when the Bernabéu returns in its full glory in 90 days’ time.