Opening

The stadium was inaugurated on December 14, 1947, with a friendly match between Real Madrid and C.F. Os Belenenses de Portugal, under the name "Real Madrid Club de Fútbol Stadium" - although it continued to be known among fans as "Nuevo Estadio Chamartín" or simply "Chamartín" -.[20] The venue had a capacity of 75,145 spectators, of which 27,645 had seats (7,125 covered) and 47,500 standing (2,000 covered). Before the match, an opening ceremony was organized. First, a mass was celebrated in which the president, members of the board of directors, some partners and other guests were present to then bless the stadium. After taking the field, the Portuguese team players were applauded by the 50,000 spectators who were present. Next, the national anthem of Portugal was sung and then the national anthem of Spain played with the two teams lined up on the field of play. Afterwards, there was the protocolary exchange of flags by the captains and the obligatory photographs with the referee team.

Likewise, President Santiago Bernabéu went down to the grass where Pedro Parages, number one partner, founder, former president and captain of Real Madrid, presented him with the signature book of the 200 oldest members. Julio Chulilla, another historical figure of Real Madrid, accompanied him. The veterans presented a plaque commemorating the premiere. In addition, the stadium was decorated with the flags of the 14 clubs that made up the First Division at that time.[21][22][23]​.

After the preludes, at 3:30 p.m., referee Pedro Escartín from the Madrid school started the match.[24] The Madrid striker Sabino Barinaga scored the first goal in the 15th minute after diving to head a cross from Pablo Vidal from the left wing that entered low close to the right post, thus beating goalkeeper José Carvalho Serio.[25]​[26]​ The match ended in victory for the team. Real Madrid 3-1 with goals from Teixeira da Silva") by the visiting team and two goals from Chus Alonso.[27]​ At the end of the match, Barinaga received a flag of recognition.[28]​ After the match, players and managers of both teams held a twinning dinner.[29]​ However, the first official match took place on December 28, 1947 in a match on matchday 12 of the National League Championship against the Atlético de Bilbao, which had been postponed due to the inauguration of the new white coliseum. The match was refereed by José Fombona Fernández from the Asturian school and ended with a 5-1 white victory. The scorer of the first goal came in the 4th minute and was the work of merengue midfielder Chus Alonso after receiving a pass from Barinaga and making a cross shot.[30]​[31]​[32]​.

1950s

Due to the high demand for tickets, the stadium became too small. For this reason, in 1953 work began on remodeling the premises. On June 19, 1954, the first major expansion of the stadium was inaugurated with the construction of a third amphitheater on the east side, adding a stand in the area of ​​Padre Damián Street (popularly known as "gallinero"), increasing its capacity to 125,000 spectators. Two towers were also built. Thus, the Madrid coliseum became the second largest stadium in Europe behind Wembley Stadium "Wembley Stadium (1923)").[33]​.

On January 4, 1955, after the General Assembly of Compromissario Members, it was decided that the stadium adopt the current name in honor of the president of the club and architect of the stadium: Santiago Bernabéu.[34]​.

On May 18, 1957, Real Madrid inaugurated electric lighting in the stands and entrances to the stadium in a match against the Brazilian Sport Club do Recife, which ended with a 5-3 home victory. Thanks to this, Real Madrid could now play games at night.[35]​.

1960s

In 1965, the transfer of all the club's offices to the stadium was completed, which since its creation had been moved to many locations in the capital.[36]​.

1970s

On December 14, 1972, coinciding with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the inauguration of the stadium, the first electronic scoreboard was debuted in a Spanish stadium in a friendly match against the same rival that inaugurated the Madrid stadium: the Portuguese Os Belenenses. Days before it had already been installed for the farewell ceremony of the merengue legend Paco Gento.[37]​ The match ended with a 2-1 local victory.[38]​.

In 1973 there was a project by the board for the construction of a new stadium in another location, which would be financed by transforming the land on which it is located into a building site, but it collided with the radical opposition of the then mayor, Carlos Arias Navarro, who, in addition to using the current urban planning plan, justified his refusal by saying that it was already a very congested area.[39]​.

1980s

Football was already experienced as a mass sport and attracted a large number of fans throughout the Spanish territory. But an important event was missing that would elevate the passion unleashed by football: the celebration of a Football World Cup. The event occurred in 1982, after Spain was chosen by FIFA as the venue in 1966, so a new major renovation was carried out in the stadium to decorate it for the important event of hosting the final of a sport that was beginning to be a clamor on all continents.

The event was very celebrated, since historically, the organizer used to obtain a magnificent performance in the championship. However, this time it did not turn out that way, with the Spanish team having a discreet participation in which they did not even reach the semi-finals after being eliminated in the second phase.

It had to be adapted to the new times and for this the work was carried out by the Hispano-Alemana de Construcciones company based on the designs of the architects Luis and Rafael Alemany (sons of Luis Alemany Soler, who carried out the construction of the complex together with Muñoz Monasterio) and Manuel Salinas. The works lasted 16 months and had a cost of 704 million pesetas, of which Madrid paid 530.

The improvements covered several points. Firstly, FIFA required half of the seating capacity, of which two-thirds had to be covered. For this reason, a canopy was installed that covered the perimeter of the first and second amphitheater except in the area on the east side. Thus, the capacity of the stadium was reduced from 125,000 to 90,800 spectators, of which 24,550 were under the new cover. The façade was also remodeled, new electronic scoreboards were installed in the north and south backs, and the press areas, changing rooms, entrances and annex areas were restructured.[40]​[41]​ As a curiosity, during the World Cup the stadium was linked by an elevated pedestrian walkway that crossed the Paseo de la Castellana to the Congress Palace "Palacio de Congresos (Paseo de la Castellana)") where the international press center was located. Once the championship was over, it was dismantled.[42]​.

1990s

After the reform carried out for the celebration of the 1982 World Cup and the new safety regulations implemented by UEFA, due to the increase in violence in European stadiums, the need to compensate for the loss of standing seats for seating was raised. These new regulations meant that, at the beginning of the 1990s, the Santiago Bernabéu underwent a major expansion, increasing the total capacity of the stadium by 20,000 seats to accommodate 106,000 spectators.

The works began on February 7, 1992 and concluded on May 7, 1994, with a final cost of more than 5,000 million pesetas, substantially increasing the club's debt, which also did not have any institutional help.[43]​ The board of directors led by President Ramón Mendoza, commissioned the architectural project to Estudio Lamela and its execution to the company Ginés y Navarro Construcciones.[44]​.

The expansion consisted of the creation of a third amphitheater on the west side and in the back, coupling it to the existing construction by means of hydraulic lifting. In total, 20,200 new seats were created, all of them seated, with an inclination of 87%, thus guaranteeing perfect vision and proximity to the playing field. Furthermore, to access the new ring and improve security when leaving the premises, four towers were erected outside emulating the San Siro Stadium, each equipped with two central stairs and a helical ramp. The “La Esquina de Bernabéu” shopping center was also built.[45]​.

With the new structure, the height of the stadium went from 22 to 45 meters, so that, during the winter, two thirds of the playing field was left in shadow and the grass deteriorated. For this reason, a network of polypropylene pipes with a length of more than 30 km was installed 20 cm deep through which hot water circulates, thus preventing frost on the grass. At the same time, the lighting power was increased, and a retractable protection was installed on the cover preferably, which would cover a greater percentage of spectators in case of rain.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the stadium and in application of the new UEFA regulations, all capacity becomes seating at the beginning of the 1997/98 season, so the venue's capacity increases from 106,000 to 74,328 spectators. As a result of the elimination of standing seats, the perimeter fences were removed from the lower tier, replacing them with railings that would allow better visibility of the playing field. Furthermore, inside the west side of the stadium, the club's first museum was inaugurated, which replaced the trophy room, coinciding with the first anniversary of the "Seventh" European Cup.[46]​.

2000s

With the arrival of Florentino Pérez to the presidency of the club, the so-called "Master Plan of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium" was launched with one objective: to improve the comfort and quality of its facilities, adapting them to the most avant-garde, and to maximize income from the stadium.

This remodeling project was entrusted to Estudio Lamela, investing 127 million euros in five years (2001-2006), increasing the capacity of the stadium to 80,354 spectators. The east side was the main focus of action, its exterior façade being covered with metal mesh, a cover was implemented that completed the entire ring of the stadium and its capacity was increased with the expansion of the third amphitheater, released at the beginning of the 2003/04 campaign. and benches, and the stands and press area, all of them moved from the west side. Furthermore, on this side adjacent to Padre Damián Street, an annex building was built in which the club's central offices and flagship store were located.[48][49]​.

At a general level for the entire stadium, a comprehensive heating system was implemented in the stands, a new public address system and video scoreboards, panoramic elevators and escalators in the four access towers. In terms of leisure facilities, new VIP areas were expanded and built,[50]​ such as the "boxes" located between the benches and the box or the two characteristic "towers" located at both ends of the east side, new restaurant establishments were enabled such as the "Realcafé Bernabéu" located in the south end and the club museum was relocated, integrating it into the new "Tour del Bernabéu", created so that the visitor can visit the most emblematic of the stadium.[51]​.

Following these reforms, on November 14, 2007, a month before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the stadium's inauguration, UEFA granted it the category of elite or "five-star" stadium, in addition to designating it as the venue for the 2010 Champions League final.[52]​.

Years 2010

For the 2010/11 season, the expansion of the first amphitheater was launched, adding one more row to the cantilever of the stands, which increased the capacity by 900 seats, thus reaching a total capacity of 81,044 spectators.[53] On December 9, 2018, the Bernabéu hosted the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between the Argentine clubs River and Boca, becoming the first stadium in addition to hosting this final, the four world and European finals for clubs and national teams (World Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Euro Cup and European Cup).[54]​[55]​.

After making a total investment of 256 million euros since 2000,[56]​ the Board of Directors headed by Florentino Pérez decided, taking advantage of the stadium's privileged location, to promote an ambitious renovation project with a double objective: to transform the Santiago Bernabéu into a global icon of sports architecture and to turn it into one of the club's main sources of direct income, which will allow it, in the future, to continue competing economically with clubs owned by large private capital.

This proposal was announced at the Ordinary General Assembly on September 12, 2010,[57]​ and approved by the delegate members at the Extraordinary Assembly on September 25, 2011.[58]​ To make it effective, the Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid approved in 2012 a specific modification of the General Urban Planning Plan, allowing the club to increase the buildability of the stadium and modify its façade. The proposed proposal included a new architectural envelope skin, the covering of the stadium for all localities and the incorporation of bioclimatic systems with renewable energy, as well as the construction of two new public squares, a hotel and a large shopping center on the side of Paseo de la Castellana.

To carry out this proposal, in 2012 an International Architecture Competition was called[59]​ to which 4 teams of great global prestige were presented: one formed by the Herzog & de Meuron and Rafael Moneo studios; another composed of Foster and Partners and Rafael de la Hoz; a third made up of the Populous teams "Populous (architects)") and Estudio Lamela; and a fourth formed by GMP Architekten, L35 and Ribas & Ribas, whose proposal was announced as the winning project on January 31, 2014.[60]​[61]​.

However, the project was paralyzed in February 2015,[62]​ when the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid annulled the approval of the specific modification of the General Urban Planning Plan of Madrid, considering it contrary to the general interest and urban planning. The court argued that the plan represented a substantial alteration of land use and a free and unjustified transfer of urban development to Real Madrid. Faced with this situation, the club decided to modify the winning project to adapt it to current legislation and reduce its urban impact. Thus, in 2016,[63]​ presented a new project that eliminated the hotel and the shopping center, raised the height of the stadium only 12 more meters for the construction of the roof until reaching 60 meters in total height and eliminated the possibility of increasing the capacity.

Finally, on May 31, 2017, the Madrid City Council gave the green light to the reform by approving the Special Plan for the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[64] After the approval of the reparceling project, the sustainable mobility plan and the urbanization project, the club awarded the remodeling works to the construction company FCC Construcciones, which finally began in June 2019.[65]​.

To finance the works,[66]​ the Real Madrid Board of Directors approved on April 12, 2019 a loan of 575 million euros for 30 years with a fixed interest of 2.5%, including 3 years of grace period, resulting in an annual installment of 29.5 million euros from July 30, 2023. In addition, on December 7, 2021, the financing was expanded with an additional loan of 225 million euros over 27 years with a fixed interest of 1.53% and a grace period until July 30, 2024, with an annual payment of 10.5 million euros from that date. Finally, on November 11, 2023, a third loan[67]​ of 370 million euros over 30 years was requested to cover cost overruns due to the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this way, the total financing amounts to 1,170 million euros at an average interest of 3%, with an annual installment of 60 million euros for 30 years, which is less than half of the new annual profits expected after the completion of the works.[68]​.

Once the renovation is completed, the Santiago Bernabéu has the following new features and innovations:[69]​.

• - An enveloping façade[70]​ formed by curved stainless steel sheets that reflect light in a changing way and that adapts to the needs of the new tertiary program, growing or retracting without losing its unity. This wrap incorporates technological and audiovisual elements that illuminate with different colors and designs depending on the occasion.

• - A fixed roof of 28,000 m² and a retractable roof of 8,000 m² that allow the use of the stadium every day of the year, regardless of weather conditions. The retractable canopy is made up of 12 movable trusses and inflatable cushions made from a double layer of fluoropolymer-coated PTFE fabric membrane, which illuminate with LEDs when deployed. The opening and closing process takes between 15 and 20 minutes.[71][72]​.

• - An automated system for the playing field[73][74]​ that allows the stadium to become a multifunctional space, suitable for concerts, conventions, fairs and various sporting events. The field is divided into 6 trays of 107 meters x 11.67 meters, each weighing approximately 1500 tons. These trays are moved and stored in an underground greenhouse called Hypogeum, using 24 transport carts. The entire process of moving and storing the pitch takes around 6 hours. The Hypogeum, located on one side inside the stadium, has a depth of 30 meters and the trays are stacked one on top of the other using a hydraulic lifting system. This greenhouse is equipped with ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, control and irrigation systems, which guarantees optimal conditions for the conservation of the grass and facilitates access for its continuous maintenance, without interfering with stadium events. The significant fact of this system of removal and conservation of the playing field, compared to other existing ones, is that it is carried out entirely within the perimeter of the stadium, without the need to occupy external spaces. This particularity makes this system a unique engineering work in the world.

• - A 360-degree video scoreboard[75]​[76]​ suspended from the roof that surrounds the entire perimeter of the playing field, being the first of its kind in a European stadium. With a height of 6.5 meters on the sides and corners, and 11 meters at the bottom, its screens have an inclination of 8 degrees, forming a truncated cone instead of a cylinder, which gives it a unique design in the world. This video scoreboard features 13HD pixel resolution, offering excellent image clarity and contrast from any seat. Additionally, you can display a large image or multiple areas of content simultaneously, including live video, instant replays, statistics, graphs, animations and sponsorship messages. 10 large screens have also been installed at the rear, providing content and information to spectators in the upper stands. All this is complemented by the installation of an LED ring in the first amphitheater.

• - The Skywalk 360.[77]​ This is a walkway that runs along the highest part of the stadium, offering impressive views of the interior and the city of Madrid. Open all year round, it stands out for housing a luxurious sushi restaurant and Skybar, a VIP restaurant located on the side of Castellana. This luxurious 700 m² space, with two terraces of 250 m² each, fuses football, gastronomy and fun. With more than 400 m² of screens, the design is dynamic and changing, making each visit unique. During matches, the Skybar operates as a VIP "super box" with 200 seats, and its avant-garde design aspires to be a global benchmark. Inspired by traditional Madrid culture, it mixes bars, lights and architecture with technological and dynamic elements. It is divided into four main areas: restaurant and nightclub at the ends, a large central bar with wrap-around bottle rack, and stands and VIP boxes for privacy and views of the field.

• - An underground logistics ring[78]​ that allows loading and unloading operations to be buried underground, thus avoiding the occupation of public space. In addition, a car tunnel has been enabled connected to the loading and unloading circuit that allows trucks and large vehicles access to the playing field through a mobile stand.

• - A new stand[79]​ on the east side with capacity for 3,000 spectators. The construction of the fourth east side amphitheater partially compensates for the loss of seats resulting from the new layout of the stadium, which has increased the space and comfort of some seats. In addition, all the stadium seats have been replaced with navy blue folding seats.

• - An increase in places for people with reduced mobility, elimination of architectural barriers, creation of new, more comfortable accesses and installation of new mechanized communications, thus achieving a substantial improvement in the accessibility of the entire stadium.

• - New leisure areas, VIP areas, restoration and entertainment for the general public. Highlights include the expansion of the Museum and the creation of a second interactive museum, as well as the construction of an Official Megastore and the creation of the Bernabéu Market,[80]​ a 3,000 m² gourmet gastronomic market located in the new Plaza de Sagrados Corazones. This market has 25 gastronomic proposals and recreates an urban atmosphere inspired by areas of Tokyo or Hong Kong, with stalls that combine stone bars and metal structures. The market is open all year round, but on match days, one section is reserved for Real Madrid guests, while the rest continues to operate as normal.

• - Redevelopment and landscape of 66,700 m² in the surroundings of the stadium, including the creation of a large square of more than 20,000 m² on Paseo de la Castellana and another of 5,500 m² in the new Plaza de Sagrados Corazones, which occupies the site of the old La Esquina del Bernabéu shopping center in Padre Damián.[81]​ In addition, work has been carried out. Rafael Salgado Street has been pedestrianized and a five-story underground parking has been built with more than 500 parking spaces in the Plaza de Sagrados Corazones.[82]​.

In November 2025, Real Madrid officially announced the name change of the stadium, deleting the "Santiago" to be called only Bernabéu because it considers that the name "Estadio Bernabéu" is more impressive and easier to pronounce.[83]​ The name change was accompanied by the presentation of a new visual identity.[84]​.

Opening

The stadium was inaugurated on December 14, 1947, with a friendly match between Real Madrid and C.F. Os Belenenses de Portugal, under the name "Real Madrid Club de Fútbol Stadium" - although it continued to be known among fans as "Nuevo Estadio Chamartín" or simply "Chamartín" -.[20] The venue had a capacity of 75,145 spectators, of which 27,645 had seats (7,125 covered) and 47,500 standing (2,000 covered). Before the match, an opening ceremony was organized. First, a mass was celebrated in which the president, members of the board of directors, some partners and other guests were present to then bless the stadium. After taking the field, the Portuguese team players were applauded by the 50,000 spectators who were present. Next, the national anthem of Portugal was sung and then the national anthem of Spain played with the two teams lined up on the field of play. Afterwards, there was the protocolary exchange of flags by the captains and the obligatory photographs with the referee team.

Likewise, President Santiago Bernabéu went down to the grass where Pedro Parages, number one partner, founder, former president and captain of Real Madrid, presented him with the signature book of the 200 oldest members. Julio Chulilla, another historical figure of Real Madrid, accompanied him. The veterans presented a plaque commemorating the premiere. In addition, the stadium was decorated with the flags of the 14 clubs that made up the First Division at that time.[21][22][23]​.

After the preludes, at 3:30 p.m., referee Pedro Escartín from the Madrid school started the match.[24] The Madrid striker Sabino Barinaga scored the first goal in the 15th minute after diving to head a cross from Pablo Vidal from the left wing that entered low close to the right post, thus beating goalkeeper José Carvalho Serio.[25]​[26]​ The match ended in victory for the team. Real Madrid 3-1 with goals from Teixeira da Silva") by the visiting team and two goals from Chus Alonso.[27]​ At the end of the match, Barinaga received a flag of recognition.[28]​ After the match, players and managers of both teams held a twinning dinner.[29]​ However, the first official match took place on December 28, 1947 in a match on matchday 12 of the National League Championship against the Atlético de Bilbao, which had been postponed due to the inauguration of the new white coliseum. The match was refereed by José Fombona Fernández from the Asturian school and ended with a 5-1 white victory. The scorer of the first goal came in the 4th minute and was the work of merengue midfielder Chus Alonso after receiving a pass from Barinaga and making a cross shot.[30]​[31]​[32]​.

1950s

Due to the high demand for tickets, the stadium became too small. For this reason, in 1953 work began on remodeling the premises. On June 19, 1954, the first major expansion of the stadium was inaugurated with the construction of a third amphitheater on the east side, adding a stand in the area of ​​Padre Damián Street (popularly known as "gallinero"), increasing its capacity to 125,000 spectators. Two towers were also built. Thus, the Madrid coliseum became the second largest stadium in Europe behind Wembley Stadium "Wembley Stadium (1923)").[33]​.

On January 4, 1955, after the General Assembly of Compromissario Members, it was decided that the stadium adopt the current name in honor of the president of the club and architect of the stadium: Santiago Bernabéu.[34]​.

On May 18, 1957, Real Madrid inaugurated electric lighting in the stands and entrances to the stadium in a match against the Brazilian Sport Club do Recife, which ended with a 5-3 home victory. Thanks to this, Real Madrid could now play games at night.[35]​.

1960s

In 1965, the transfer of all the club's offices to the stadium was completed, which since its creation had been moved to many locations in the capital.[36]​.

1970s

On December 14, 1972, coinciding with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the inauguration of the stadium, the first electronic scoreboard was debuted in a Spanish stadium in a friendly match against the same rival that inaugurated the Madrid stadium: the Portuguese Os Belenenses. Days before it had already been installed for the farewell ceremony of the merengue legend Paco Gento.[37]​ The match ended with a 2-1 local victory.[38]​.

In 1973 there was a project by the board for the construction of a new stadium in another location, which would be financed by transforming the land on which it is located into a building site, but it collided with the radical opposition of the then mayor, Carlos Arias Navarro, who, in addition to using the current urban planning plan, justified his refusal by saying that it was already a very congested area.[39]​.

1980s

Football was already experienced as a mass sport and attracted a large number of fans throughout the Spanish territory. But an important event was missing that would elevate the passion unleashed by football: the celebration of a Football World Cup. The event occurred in 1982, after Spain was chosen by FIFA as the venue in 1966, so a new major renovation was carried out in the stadium to decorate it for the important event of hosting the final of a sport that was beginning to be a clamor on all continents.

The event was very celebrated, since historically, the organizer used to obtain a magnificent performance in the championship. However, this time it did not turn out that way, with the Spanish team having a discreet participation in which they did not even reach the semi-finals after being eliminated in the second phase.

It had to be adapted to the new times and for this the work was carried out by the Hispano-Alemana de Construcciones company based on the designs of the architects Luis and Rafael Alemany (sons of Luis Alemany Soler, who carried out the construction of the complex together with Muñoz Monasterio) and Manuel Salinas. The works lasted 16 months and had a cost of 704 million pesetas, of which Madrid paid 530.

The improvements covered several points. Firstly, FIFA required half of the seating capacity, of which two-thirds had to be covered. For this reason, a canopy was installed that covered the perimeter of the first and second amphitheater except in the area on the east side. Thus, the capacity of the stadium was reduced from 125,000 to 90,800 spectators, of which 24,550 were under the new cover. The façade was also remodeled, new electronic scoreboards were installed in the north and south backs, and the press areas, changing rooms, entrances and annex areas were restructured.[40]​[41]​ As a curiosity, during the World Cup the stadium was linked by an elevated pedestrian walkway that crossed the Paseo de la Castellana to the Congress Palace "Palacio de Congresos (Paseo de la Castellana)") where the international press center was located. Once the championship was over, it was dismantled.[42]​.

1990s

After the reform carried out for the celebration of the 1982 World Cup and the new safety regulations implemented by UEFA, due to the increase in violence in European stadiums, the need to compensate for the loss of standing seats for seating was raised. These new regulations meant that, at the beginning of the 1990s, the Santiago Bernabéu underwent a major expansion, increasing the total capacity of the stadium by 20,000 seats to accommodate 106,000 spectators.

The works began on February 7, 1992 and concluded on May 7, 1994, with a final cost of more than 5,000 million pesetas, substantially increasing the club's debt, which also did not have any institutional help.[43]​ The board of directors led by President Ramón Mendoza, commissioned the architectural project to Estudio Lamela and its execution to the company Ginés y Navarro Construcciones.[44]​.

The expansion consisted of the creation of a third amphitheater on the west side and in the back, coupling it to the existing construction by means of hydraulic lifting. In total, 20,200 new seats were created, all of them seated, with an inclination of 87%, thus guaranteeing perfect vision and proximity to the playing field. Furthermore, to access the new ring and improve security when leaving the premises, four towers were erected outside emulating the San Siro Stadium, each equipped with two central stairs and a helical ramp. The “La Esquina de Bernabéu” shopping center was also built.[45]​.

With the new structure, the height of the stadium went from 22 to 45 meters, so that, during the winter, two thirds of the playing field was left in shadow and the grass deteriorated. For this reason, a network of polypropylene pipes with a length of more than 30 km was installed 20 cm deep through which hot water circulates, thus preventing frost on the grass. At the same time, the lighting power was increased, and a retractable protection was installed on the cover preferably, which would cover a greater percentage of spectators in case of rain.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the stadium and in application of the new UEFA regulations, all capacity becomes seating at the beginning of the 1997/98 season, so the venue's capacity increases from 106,000 to 74,328 spectators. As a result of the elimination of standing seats, the perimeter fences were removed from the lower tier, replacing them with railings that would allow better visibility of the playing field. Furthermore, inside the west side of the stadium, the club's first museum was inaugurated, which replaced the trophy room, coinciding with the first anniversary of the "Seventh" European Cup.[46]​.

2000s

With the arrival of Florentino Pérez to the presidency of the club, the so-called "Master Plan of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium" was launched with one objective: to improve the comfort and quality of its facilities, adapting them to the most avant-garde, and to maximize income from the stadium.

This remodeling project was entrusted to Estudio Lamela, investing 127 million euros in five years (2001-2006), increasing the capacity of the stadium to 80,354 spectators. The east side was the main focus of action, its exterior façade being covered with metal mesh, a cover was implemented that completed the entire ring of the stadium and its capacity was increased with the expansion of the third amphitheater, released at the beginning of the 2003/04 campaign. and benches, and the stands and press area, all of them moved from the west side. Furthermore, on this side adjacent to Padre Damián Street, an annex building was built in which the club's central offices and flagship store were located.[48][49]​.

At a general level for the entire stadium, a comprehensive heating system was implemented in the stands, a new public address system and video scoreboards, panoramic elevators and escalators in the four access towers. In terms of leisure facilities, new VIP areas were expanded and built,[50]​ such as the "boxes" located between the benches and the box or the two characteristic "towers" located at both ends of the east side, new restaurant establishments were enabled such as the "Realcafé Bernabéu" located in the south end and the club museum was relocated, integrating it into the new "Tour del Bernabéu", created so that the visitor can visit the most emblematic of the stadium.[51]​.

Following these reforms, on November 14, 2007, a month before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the stadium's inauguration, UEFA granted it the category of elite or "five-star" stadium, in addition to designating it as the venue for the 2010 Champions League final.[52]​.

Years 2010

For the 2010/11 season, the expansion of the first amphitheater was launched, adding one more row to the cantilever of the stands, which increased the capacity by 900 seats, thus reaching a total capacity of 81,044 spectators.[53] On December 9, 2018, the Bernabéu hosted the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between the Argentine clubs River and Boca, becoming the first stadium in addition to hosting this final, the four world and European finals for clubs and national teams (World Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Euro Cup and European Cup).[54]​[55]​.

After making a total investment of 256 million euros since 2000,[56]​ the Board of Directors headed by Florentino Pérez decided, taking advantage of the stadium's privileged location, to promote an ambitious renovation project with a double objective: to transform the Santiago Bernabéu into a global icon of sports architecture and to turn it into one of the club's main sources of direct income, which will allow it, in the future, to continue competing economically with clubs owned by large private capital.

This proposal was announced at the Ordinary General Assembly on September 12, 2010,[57]​ and approved by the delegate members at the Extraordinary Assembly on September 25, 2011.[58]​ To make it effective, the Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid approved in 2012 a specific modification of the General Urban Planning Plan, allowing the club to increase the buildability of the stadium and modify its façade. The proposed proposal included a new architectural envelope skin, the covering of the stadium for all localities and the incorporation of bioclimatic systems with renewable energy, as well as the construction of two new public squares, a hotel and a large shopping center on the side of Paseo de la Castellana.

To carry out this proposal, in 2012 an International Architecture Competition was called[59]​ to which 4 teams of great global prestige were presented: one formed by the Herzog & de Meuron and Rafael Moneo studios; another composed of Foster and Partners and Rafael de la Hoz; a third made up of the Populous teams "Populous (architects)") and Estudio Lamela; and a fourth formed by GMP Architekten, L35 and Ribas & Ribas, whose proposal was announced as the winning project on January 31, 2014.[60]​[61]​.

However, the project was paralyzed in February 2015,[62]​ when the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid annulled the approval of the specific modification of the General Urban Planning Plan of Madrid, considering it contrary to the general interest and urban planning. The court argued that the plan represented a substantial alteration of land use and a free and unjustified transfer of urban development to Real Madrid. Faced with this situation, the club decided to modify the winning project to adapt it to current legislation and reduce its urban impact. Thus, in 2016,[63]​ presented a new project that eliminated the hotel and the shopping center, raised the height of the stadium only 12 more meters for the construction of the roof until reaching 60 meters in total height and eliminated the possibility of increasing the capacity.

Finally, on May 31, 2017, the Madrid City Council gave the green light to the reform by approving the Special Plan for the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[64] After the approval of the reparceling project, the sustainable mobility plan and the urbanization project, the club awarded the remodeling works to the construction company FCC Construcciones, which finally began in June 2019.[65]​.

To finance the works,[66]​ the Real Madrid Board of Directors approved on April 12, 2019 a loan of 575 million euros for 30 years with a fixed interest of 2.5%, including 3 years of grace period, resulting in an annual installment of 29.5 million euros from July 30, 2023. In addition, on December 7, 2021, the financing was expanded with an additional loan of 225 million euros over 27 years with a fixed interest of 1.53% and a grace period until July 30, 2024, with an annual payment of 10.5 million euros from that date. Finally, on November 11, 2023, a third loan[67]​ of 370 million euros over 30 years was requested to cover cost overruns due to the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this way, the total financing amounts to 1,170 million euros at an average interest of 3%, with an annual installment of 60 million euros for 30 years, which is less than half of the new annual profits expected after the completion of the works.[68]​.

Once the renovation is completed, the Santiago Bernabéu has the following new features and innovations:[69]​.

• - An enveloping façade[70]​ formed by curved stainless steel sheets that reflect light in a changing way and that adapts to the needs of the new tertiary program, growing or retracting without losing its unity. This wrap incorporates technological and audiovisual elements that illuminate with different colors and designs depending on the occasion.

• - A fixed roof of 28,000 m² and a retractable roof of 8,000 m² that allow the use of the stadium every day of the year, regardless of weather conditions. The retractable canopy is made up of 12 movable trusses and inflatable cushions made from a double layer of fluoropolymer-coated PTFE fabric membrane, which illuminate with LEDs when deployed. The opening and closing process takes between 15 and 20 minutes.[71][72]​.

• - An automated system for the playing field[73][74]​ that allows the stadium to become a multifunctional space, suitable for concerts, conventions, fairs and various sporting events. The field is divided into 6 trays of 107 meters x 11.67 meters, each weighing approximately 1500 tons. These trays are moved and stored in an underground greenhouse called Hypogeum, using 24 transport carts. The entire process of moving and storing the pitch takes around 6 hours. The Hypogeum, located on one side inside the stadium, has a depth of 30 meters and the trays are stacked one on top of the other using a hydraulic lifting system. This greenhouse is equipped with ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, control and irrigation systems, which guarantees optimal conditions for the conservation of the grass and facilitates access for its continuous maintenance, without interfering with stadium events. The significant fact of this system of removal and conservation of the playing field, compared to other existing ones, is that it is carried out entirely within the perimeter of the stadium, without the need to occupy external spaces. This particularity makes this system a unique engineering work in the world.

• - A 360-degree video scoreboard[75]​[76]​ suspended from the roof that surrounds the entire perimeter of the playing field, being the first of its kind in a European stadium. With a height of 6.5 meters on the sides and corners, and 11 meters at the bottom, its screens have an inclination of 8 degrees, forming a truncated cone instead of a cylinder, which gives it a unique design in the world. This video scoreboard features 13HD pixel resolution, offering excellent image clarity and contrast from any seat. Additionally, you can display a large image or multiple areas of content simultaneously, including live video, instant replays, statistics, graphs, animations and sponsorship messages. 10 large screens have also been installed at the rear, providing content and information to spectators in the upper stands. All this is complemented by the installation of an LED ring in the first amphitheater.

• - The Skywalk 360.[77]​ This is a walkway that runs along the highest part of the stadium, offering impressive views of the interior and the city of Madrid. Open all year round, it stands out for housing a luxurious sushi restaurant and Skybar, a VIP restaurant located on the side of Castellana. This luxurious 700 m² space, with two terraces of 250 m² each, fuses football, gastronomy and fun. With more than 400 m² of screens, the design is dynamic and changing, making each visit unique. During matches, the Skybar operates as a VIP "super box" with 200 seats, and its avant-garde design aspires to be a global benchmark. Inspired by traditional Madrid culture, it mixes bars, lights and architecture with technological and dynamic elements. It is divided into four main areas: restaurant and nightclub at the ends, a large central bar with wrap-around bottle rack, and stands and VIP boxes for privacy and views of the field.

• - An underground logistics ring[78]​ that allows loading and unloading operations to be buried underground, thus avoiding the occupation of public space. In addition, a car tunnel has been enabled connected to the loading and unloading circuit that allows trucks and large vehicles access to the playing field through a mobile stand.

• - A new stand[79]​ on the east side with capacity for 3,000 spectators. The construction of the fourth east side amphitheater partially compensates for the loss of seats resulting from the new layout of the stadium, which has increased the space and comfort of some seats. In addition, all the stadium seats have been replaced with navy blue folding seats.

• - An increase in places for people with reduced mobility, elimination of architectural barriers, creation of new, more comfortable accesses and installation of new mechanized communications, thus achieving a substantial improvement in the accessibility of the entire stadium.

• - New leisure areas, VIP areas, restoration and entertainment for the general public. Highlights include the expansion of the Museum and the creation of a second interactive museum, as well as the construction of an Official Megastore and the creation of the Bernabéu Market,[80]​ a 3,000 m² gourmet gastronomic market located in the new Plaza de Sagrados Corazones. This market has 25 gastronomic proposals and recreates an urban atmosphere inspired by areas of Tokyo or Hong Kong, with stalls that combine stone bars and metal structures. The market is open all year round, but on match days, one section is reserved for Real Madrid guests, while the rest continues to operate as normal.

• - Redevelopment and landscape of 66,700 m² in the surroundings of the stadium, including the creation of a large square of more than 20,000 m² on Paseo de la Castellana and another of 5,500 m² in the new Plaza de Sagrados Corazones, which occupies the site of the old La Esquina del Bernabéu shopping center in Padre Damián.[81]​ In addition, work has been carried out. Rafael Salgado Street has been pedestrianized and a five-story underground parking has been built with more than 500 parking spaces in the Plaza de Sagrados Corazones.[82]​.

In November 2025, Real Madrid officially announced the name change of the stadium, deleting the "Santiago" to be called only Bernabéu because it considers that the name "Estadio Bernabéu" is more impressive and easier to pronounce.[83]​ The name change was accompanied by the presentation of a new visual identity.[84]​.