Vicente Calderón Stadium

Estadio Vicente Calderon is home to the Atletico Madrid football club. It sits on the banks of the Manzanares River in the heart of the city, in the Arganzuela district. Opened in 1966, it was the first stadium in Spain to achieve Elite classification from the UEFA. In addition to hosting three second round games of the 1982 World Cup, the stadium often hosts international matches of the Spanish national team.
The stadium is designed with two large tiers of uncovered stands that curve around the pitch, but with no corner seating connecting to the so-called Preference side, which is the only side that has a roof. Not surprisingly, that is where you will find the VIP boxes, the Royal Box and the press room. The stadium seating is distinctive, with seats painted in red and white stripes, the same colors as the team jerseys. Unfortunately, the stadium is scheduled to be demolished in a few years when Atletico Madrid moves to a new stadium. A park is planned to be built in its place.

Practical Info

Estadio Vicente Calderon can be reached in just 30 minutes on foot from Madrid’s Plaza Mayor. By Metro, spectators can take line 5 to either the Piramides or Marques de Vadillo stations. The stadium is a 10-minute walk from Piramides, while it is a 15 minute walk from Marques de Vadillo, which is on the opposite side of the river. It is also accessible by more than a dozen bus lines. The Atletico Madrid museum inside the stadium is open Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on match days from 11 a.m. to the start of the match. Guided tours of the stadium are also available; times vary by season.