New locker rooms. Rows of seats eliminated. Even the last Real Madrid poster hidden from view. These are just some of the steps the National Football League took to transform one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world for the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders. On November 16, the two teams will compete at the Real Madrid Santiago Bernabéu field, although the pitch will not have the same appearance as usual.
To prepare the field, the NFL spent $2.32 million on a series of temporary renovations. The most fundamental change occurred on the playing surface itself. Since soccer fields are shorter than American football fields, the playing field had to be expanded from 115 yards to the official NFL length of 120 yards. To make this happen, entire rows of seats in the stadium’s north and south stands were physically removed.
The fact that this could be done is a testament to the clever modular work of L35 Architects; von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) Architects; and Ribas & Ribas Architects, who designed the stadium. Also important is the stadium’s patented retractable field, which is divided into six sections and can be moved horizontally and vertically using electric motors and hydraulic systems. The sections are stored in an underground chamber called the Hypogeum, where the grass is cared for. The Bernabéu’s unique retractable pitch system makes it arguably the most versatile large-scale entertainment venue in the world; It can be transformed to host football, tennis, basketball, concerts, conventions, or almost any other event you can imagine.
The logistical needs of NFL teams also forced significant structural changes, despite them being temporary. The locker rooms were expanded to handle the 53-man squads and their extensive support staff (more than double Real Madrid’s 25-man soccer team). Because the traditional central tunnel used by football players was not suitable for the passage of so many people in a timely and organized manner, new accesses to the locker rooms were created in the corners of the bench areas. The league also installed a new, separate media room to comply with its specific media protocols.
Unlike football, where teams occupy designated benches, NFL teams line the length of the field. The narrower width of the NFL field meant that the first rows of the side stands did not need to be altered, but the home and away teams’ boxes had to be removed to make room for the halftime show stage.
The NFL even attempted to fix the stadium’s noise problems, which became known worldwide thanks to Taylor Swift (and, months later, caused Real Madrid to cancel all future music concerts until a solution to the noise pollution was found). That in itself is remarkable. And necessary: While the Real Madrid games cause extraordinary noise for 90 minutes, the NFL game will cause an batch more for their halftime show. The NFL installed noise-absorbing panels throughout the stadium, likely hoping to avoid the public relations backlash that would have (and still would) occur without them.
Wow
Since I live near the Bernabéu, I have followed the transformation closely. I went to the stadium to see all the changes just before writing this article, and the most shocking thing (at least for a Real Madrid fan like me) was seeing all traces of my club erased. All club crests and markings are covered or completely removed. NFL, Commanders and Dolphins posters are everywhere, as they are throughout Madrid, thanks to the regional government, which spent around $3.5 million to promote the event.
During the match, the stadium’s 350-degree, 1,120-foot screen, which is the ever-present spectacular visual frame for every Real Madrid home game, will display the flags of Spain, the United States and the NFL, in addition to all sponsors and game information. Even the club’s public commercial spaces have been repurposed; The Bernabéu museum, which displays all the trophies and historical memorabilia of the FIFA Club of the Century since its founding in 1902, made space for a temporary NFL museum. The team’s official store also gave up a large portion of its retail area to a store that sells merchandise from all 32 NFL franchises.
Everyone in Spain is betting that this is worth the effort. It will undoubtedly be for fans and curious people: around 84,000 people will fill the stadium after the initial sales window saw 700,000 different devices trying to buy tickets. The regional government estimates that the game will generate approximately $81.2 million in revenue.
Whether it will be worth it for football itself remains to be seen. While the NFL is the highest-grossing sport in the United States, it pales in comparison to the globally popular game of football. According to Deloitte’s fiscal year 2024 report, in Europe alone the football market generated revenue of $45.1 billion compared to $23 billion for the NFL.
Even so, all of Madrid has apparently been carried away by the current spectacle. Just yesterday, my son and I were amazed to see a giant double-decker bus for NFL fans decorated in the colors of the Miami Dolphins. All over the city there are flags and bus stop signs advertising the game. According to NFL executive Jon Barker, bringing football to a broader audience is a generational job. “I don’t think at this point we have any idea what football will be like in 100 years on a global scale,” he said. Washington Post.
The league sees this game as a pivotal moment for its expansion into the Spanish-speaking market. A striking spectacle, without a doubt. A kind of mini Super Bowl. But the NFL has an uphill battle if it wants to make a dent in the markets where real football, the one you play with your feetnot with you hands-He is the undisputed king.