Atletico Madrid has ambitious growth plans involving numerous infrastructure and technology projects designed to establish them as one of football’s elite, but in a unique way that sets them apart from others.
An innovative initiative with a city-centric objective, the new Ciudad del Deporte (Sports City) aims to establish Madrid as a global hub for sports and sustainability. Currently under construction, this project will benefit the club and offer new facilities and green spaces that is accessible to everyone in Madrid.
Sports City will include two new municipal sports facilities for the city’s residents. Besides the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano, a mini stadium with a capacity of 6,000 spectators will be constructed, and an athletics stadium will revive the Olympic spirit in a district that missed out on hosting the major sporting event in 2012.
The project will also feature an artificial wave beach designed for surfing and various sports activities within the leisure area, enhancing the recreational offerings for visitors and residents alike. Furthermore, a new hotel will be constructed just minutes away from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and the IFEMA Trade Fair Ground, offering convenient accommodation for travellers and event attendees.
This hotel will cater to both business and leisure visitors, providing modern amenities and easy access to key locations in Madrid. The comprehensive development aims to transform the area into a vibrant hub of sports, leisure, and hospitality, significantly boosting the city’s appeal as a global destination.
Sustainability is a central focus of the project, with facilities meticulously designed to minimise energy consumption and reduce the environmental footprint. The club’s sustainability sponsor, Civitas, is playing a leading role in this effort, ensuring that innovative and eco-friendly technologies are integrated into the development.
This includes the use of renewable energy sources, advanced energy-efficient systems, and sustainable building materials. By prioritising sustainability, the project aims to set a new standard for environmentally conscious sports and leisure complexes, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. Civitas’ involvement underscores the commitment to creating a green and sustainable environment that benefits both the community and the planet. This approach not only enhances the project’s long-term viability but also positions it as a model for future developments in the realm of sports infrastructure.
The new Sports City will span over one million square meters, incorporating 33% green areas that will be integrated into the Metropolitano Forest, this green belt will encircle the city of Madrid.
Significantly for the club, the area will house its first team training ground, relocating them from their current base in Majadahonda, which is 20km away. The new facility will include six training pitches, a gymnasium, and a medical centre.
To compete with Real Madrid in the same city and the major clubs across Europe, they needed to move to a new, larger stadium. This move was essential for growth on the pitch, increasing their fan base, and enhancing the club’s image.
Director of Operations, Fernando Fariza spoke to FC Business about the project.
“The 2017 move was risky from a social and economic point of view as we had to invest a lot of money. However, we Invested €330m in the stadium, which included not only the construction but also buying the land and constructing access to the motorway. Now, 100% of that stadium investment has been amortised in the first five seasons,” he said.
“How? Half of the investment was recovered through the sale of the old stadium and the land it was on. The other half, with the additional revenues the stadium generates, we have paid off the costs.
“From a social point of view, the numbers here are now incredible. We’re always sold out. We have the highest number of season ticket holders in our history-60,000, We have 5,000 VIP season ticket holders. With that situation, we are now ready to make the next step.
“Around the stadium, there is a lot of land that was part of the Madrid Olympic Games bid that we didn’t win. When we moved into the stadium, we started talking to the Principality. It was a crazy idea, but finally we signed an agreement to build a sports and entertainment centre around the stadium. It’s not just a Sports City for Atletico Madrid; it’s more than football and will be something open to everyone in Madrid.
“We always need to compete with different things. We like to be different. We always try to be near our fans and produce a different atmosphere, to create joy and a great experience. The philosophy of the Sports City is also done in that way.”
The total investment for the facilities is expected to reach an additional $336 million. The majority of this will be financed by the club and funds from the CVC Boost LaLiga fund. For the remaining amount, the club is negotiating agreements with third-party operators and specialised companies to manage some of the businesses on the site, including a hotel, a college, and the inland surf area.
“This is the final project of the new Atletico Madrid,” Fariza states. “If you go back over 20 years ago, we were playing in the second division, and it was a very difficult time from an economic point of view. It took ten years to recover. In 2010, we played in the Europa League final in Hamburg against Fulham, and we won. That was our first title in many years, and it closed out a very difficult period for us.
“The second phase has been the [Diego] Simone era, during which we have moved to the new stadium, we now play in the UEFA Champions League every season and we have won trophies as well as grown our fanbase.
“Now, this is the third phase of our growth. This is the new Atletico Madrid but keeping our values and identity. That is our biggest challenge. When you grow a lot with many fans, it’s hard to stay close to them.”
In addition to the Sports City development, Atletico is continuing to invest in the stadium. This year has seen the capacity increase by another 2,000 from 68,000 to over 70,000, while they have transformed some of the hospitality areas to better serve a wider variety of fan groups. The club is keen to make the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano a multi-purpose venue.
Despite many critics in the A-League fan bases and football supporters alike seemed confused as to how Western United playing in Tarneit can be beneficial, it is important to remember good things do take time such as the case of Athletico Madrid. A long term project that Western United has envisioned for its members and the local area will require investments as well as the dedication from individuals to attract supporters from other teams to visit, and most importantly the state government to improve the area as a whole.
