Santiago Bernabeau Stadium – One Of The Greatest Stadiums In The World
The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium has a capacity of 81,044, making it one of the largest football stadiums in the world. It is also host to Real Madrid, the most successful football team in the world. Item #14 on The Edison Project is to watch a football match in the Nou Camp, Bernabeu, San Siro, and Maracana. Back in October 2010, I was able to tick one of those stadiums off the list as I watched Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League loss to Inter Milan in the San Siro, a game made famous for the hat-trick scored by Gareth Bale. Despite the result, Tottenham Hotspur progressed to the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by Real Madrid. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to Madrid at the time.
Seven years later and I am again in a position to watch Real Madrid play Tottenham Hotspur in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. I was determined not to miss this opportunity, immediately booking my flights to Madrid once the draw was made. Defending champions Real Madrid were tipped as hot favourites with anything but defeat considered a miracle. The eventual 1-1 result, therefore, a magnificent achievement for Tottenham Hotspur who eventually went on to win what was considered the group of death.
The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is a magnificent stadium, especially on a Champions League night, but I can’t help but feel the atmosphere is stunted somewhat by the tourists and glory hunters that flock to watch Real Madrid. Additionally, I am not convinced the stadium has the colossus presence that is delivered by the more aggressive in appearance San Siro. I guess the build on this experience would be to see the El Clasico in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Photograph by Nicholas Moon
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The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is a magnificent stadium, especially on a Champions League night, but I can’t help but feel the atmosphere is stunted somewhat by the tourists and glory hunters that flock to watch Real Madrid. Additionally, I am not convinced the stadium has the colossus presence that is delivered by the more aggressive in appearance San Siro. I guess the build on this experience would be to see the El Clasico in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.