New locker rooms. Rows of seats eliminated. Each final Actual Madrid signal hidden from sight. These are simply a number of the measures the Nationwide Soccer League took to remodel one of many world’s most iconic soccer stadiums for a matchup between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders. On November 16, the 2 groups will compete on the sector of Actual Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, although the pitch gained’t look something like its standard self.
To get the sector prepared, the NFL spent $2.32 million on a sequence of non permanent renovations. Essentially the most basic change was to the taking part in floor itself. Since soccer pitches are shorter than American soccer fields, the taking part in discipline needed to be prolonged from 115 yards to the official NFL size of 120 yards. To make this occur, complete rows of seats within the stadium’s North and South Stands have been bodily eliminated.
The truth that this might be accomplished in any respect is a testomony to the intelligent modular work by L35 Architects; von Gerkan, Marg and Companions (gmp) Architects; and Ribas & Ribas Architects, who designed the stadium. Additionally necessary is the stadium’s patented, retractable pitch, which is split into six sections and might be moved horizontally and vertically utilizing electrical motors and hydraulic techniques. The sections are saved in an underground chamber referred to as the Hypogeum, the place the grass is attended to. The Bernabéu’s distinctive retractable pitch system makes it arguably the most versatile large-scale entertainment venue on this planet; it will probably rework to host soccer, soccer, tennis, basketball, live shows, conventions, or nearly another occasion you’ll be able to think about.
The logistical wants of NFL groups additionally pressured important, albeit non permanent, structural adjustments. The locker rooms have been expanded to deal with the 53-man rosters and their in depth help workers (greater than double Actual Madrid’s 25-man soccer squad). As a result of the normal central tunnel utilized by soccer gamers was unsuitable for thus many individuals to undergo in a well timed, organized method, new entry factors to the locker rooms have been created within the corners of the bench areas. The league additionally put in a brand new, separate press room to satisfy its particular media protocols.
In contrast to soccer, the place groups occupy designated benches, NFL groups are positioned alongside the size of the sector. The narrower NFL discipline width meant the entrance rows of the facet stands didn’t have to be altered, however the dwelling and guests’ staff bins needed to be eliminated to create space for the halftime-show stage.
The NFL even tried to repair the stadium’s noise issues, which became known worldwide thanks to Taylor Swift (and, months later, brought about Actual Madrid to cancel all future music concerts till an answer to the acoustic air pollution is discovered). That in itself is outstanding. And obligatory: Whereas Actual Madrid video games trigger extraordinary noise for 90 minutes, the NFL sport will trigger a lot extra due to its halftime present. The NFL put in noise-absorption panels all through the stadium, in all probability hoping to keep away from the PR backlash that will have ensued (and nonetheless would possibly) with out them.
Wow
As somebody who lives near the Bernabéu, I’ve been watching the transformation carefully. I went to the stadium to see all of the adjustments simply earlier than writing this text, and probably the most stunning factor—a minimum of for a Actual Madrid fan like me—was to see each hint of my membership erased. All membership shields and branding are both lined up or eliminated totally. Indicators for the NFL, the Commanders, and the Dolphins are all over the place, simply as they’re all through Madrid, because of the regional authorities, which spent about $3.5 million to advertise the occasion.
In the course of the sport, the stadium’s 1,120-foot, 350-degree display screen—which is the spectacular ever-present visible body for each Actual Madrid dwelling match—will show the flags of Spain, america, and the NFL, plus all of the sponsors and sport data. Even the membership’s public-facing industrial areas have been repurposed; the Bernabéu museum, which shows all of the trophies and historic memorabilia of FIFA’s Club of the Century since its 1902 basis, ceded house for a brief NFL museum. The official staff retailer additionally gave up a big portion of its retail space for a merchandise store promoting gear from all 32 NFL franchises.
Everybody in Spain is betting on this being definitely worth the cash and the trouble. Definitely, it is going to be for followers and curious folks: About 84,000 will fill the stadium after the preliminary sale window noticed 700,000 completely different gadgets making an attempt to buy tickets. The regional authorities estimates that the sport will herald roughly $81.2 million in income.
It’s but to be seen whether or not it is going to be value it for soccer itself. Whereas the NFL is the highest-grossing sport within the U.S., it pales compared to the globally well-liked sport of soccer. According to Deloitte’s 2024 fiscal yr report, in Europe alone the soccer market generated income of $45.1 billion in comparison with the NFL’s $23 billion.
Nonetheless, all of Madrid has seemingly been swept up by the present spectacle. Simply yesterday, my son and I have been amazed to see a large double-decker bus for NFL followers embellished with Miami Dolphins colours. Throughout the town there are flags and bus cease adverts asserting the sport. In response to NFL government Jon Barker, bringing soccer to a wider viewers is generational work. “I don’t assume at this level that now we have any concept 100 years from now what soccer goes to appear like on a world scale,” he told The Washington Post.
The league views this sport as a pivotal second for its enlargement into the Spanish-speaking market. A flashy present, for certain. A mini Tremendous Bowl of types. However the NFL has an uphill battle if it desires to make a dent within the markets the place actual soccer—the one you play together with your ft, not together with your fingers—is the undisputed king.
