The Bernabéu changes its skin
The first panel of the 70,000 cladding pieces that will cover Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu has been placed.
Work is now underway on one of the standout features of the new Santiago Bernabéu - the stadium’s outer skin. The first panel out of the 70,000 that will eventually cover the stadium’s exterior has been anchored to the structure. The cladding, comprising 14 stainless steel rails, was fixed into place on Friday. Throughout this week, more will be attached on the south end of the stadium, extending along and above the skeleton that hangs from the walkway (the so-called Sky Room), giving the stadium a futuristic look that will make the Bernabéu completely unrecognizable by the time Real Madrid host Betis on 4 September - the first home match of the 2022/3 LaLiga season to be played there. Curiously, Madrid’s last home game was against the same rivals - the two teams played out a goalless draw on 20 May, just days before Ancelotti’s team won the Champions League in Paris.
Once all are applied, the metallic panels covering the exterior will change colour depending on the angle at which the stadium is viewed. For now, they remain in a protective plastic covering.
The Bernabéu remodelling project has gathered pace in the last few weeks. Work continues in almost 400 different areas to ensure that everything will be ready by the first weekend of September. The underground vault, the area which will house the plates of retractable pitch, is almost complete. Work is also being done on the grass trays. At the same time, work is progressing on the zone where the changing rooms and players’ tunnel will be situated. Steel panels are being fixed on the north and south roofs with plans to reinforce the structure at both ends as well as the west side (facing Paseo de la Castellana). In that area, work is now underway on the reconstruction of the stands and the construction of a ventilation shaft for the pitch.
Madrid is taking advantage of the break in competition to speed up the reform of the stadium. With any luck, during the month when there is no competition (in November and December for 2022 World Cup Qatar), work can be carried out on installing a video scoreboard, as well as finishing off work on several other front such as the VIP areas, catering and restaurant etc.). The club’s plan is to have everything finished by September 2023.