The La Liga giant’s general assembly gave the go-ahead to the plan, which is set to provide a striking transformation of the historic venue. The redevelopment will see the Bernabeu receive a new facade, along with parking facilities and green areas. Images on the club’s official website showed the stadium completely wrapped in a neon blue cover, with only the pitch remaining uncovered.
Perez told club members that the redevelopment “will represent a radical change to the stadium’s look and will mean that all the stands will now be covered”. He added: “We will provide our stadium with an enveloping skin that will be a landmark architectural achievement worldwide. The Bernabeu must become a unique stadium, the best in the world, and the crowning achievement of the 21st century. It will be our legacy to future generations of Madridistas.”
The 80,300-seat Bernabeu has undergone a number of renovations since it opened in 1947. Perez oversaw a significant redevelopment of the stadium during his first spell in power between 2001 and 2006. Real’s bitter La Liga rival, FC Barcelona, proposed its own major redevelopment of the Nou Camp in 2007, which also included the concept of a wrap around the stadium. However, the global financial crisis has since seen this plan put on ice.
