Santiago Bernabéu named best stadium in the world by World Football Summit
Emilio Butragueño collected the award at the ceremony in Seville
The Santiago Bernabéu has been recognised as the best stadium in the world in 2024 by the World Football Summit (WFS), the number one platform for the world football industry. Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid's Director of Institutional Relations, collected the award at the ceremony held in Seville and said the following: "This accolade brings us great satisfaction and pride. Our stadium is a magical place, where we have experienced unforgettable moments that belong to the history of football. Our stadium is unquestionably one of the temples of world football. With the modernisation we have undergone, we have taken the concept of a stadium to a higher level. And it should be a boost for all the challenges of the future."
Reconognition
The award stresses the innovative characteristics of the Santiago Bernabéu and its "ambitious vision to reshape not only the landscape of sports stadiums, but also the cultural and economic make-up of Madrid." The award also celebrates the "unique innovation" carried out by Real Madrid in many aspects of the new Santiago Bernabéu. These include the construction of a state-of-the-art retractable pitch with an underground greenhouse, a 360-degree video scoreboard that engulfs the entire interior of the stadium and the external digital exterior that transforms the stadium into a dynamic urban landmark.
The award also underlines the stadium's capacity to adapt to become a cultural and tourist centre in the Spanish capital in a year in which it has staged concerts by international artists such as Taylor Swift, Karol G. and Luis Miguel. Jan Alessie, co-founder of World Football Summit, said: "The Santiago Bernabéu is not just a stadium, it is a showcase of the future of sports and entertainment venues. Its blend of cutting-edge technology, sustainability and multi-functionality sets a new standard for what a modern stadium can become. It is a turning point in the industry and a crucial asset for Madrid's economy."