Real Madrid announce incredible stadium transformation made possible by $1bn renovation
Real Madrid are transforming the Bernabeu into a collection of tennis courts for the Madrid Open.
The Bernabeu will be home to training facilities in between April 23 and April 30 with the tournament starting on April 20.
The players hotel for the tournament is only six miles away from Real Madrid‘s home and is the perfect location for the athletes to practice before the match.
The transformation is possible because of Madrid’s retractable pitch which was only fitted in late 2023 after a $1billion (£750million) renovation.
Construction was done to the Bernabeu to boost the club’s revenue despite them already earning $1.2billion (£900million) a year.
They wanted to expand their range of events that they can offer at the stadium.
Since the renovations, Real Madrid have hosted their first NFL game at the Bernabeu between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders.
Taylor Swift was able to perform there in 2024 during her world stadium tour.
The clay tennis court is stored underground, below the pitch to stay unblemished.
The grass is looked after by climate controllers to allow the floor to be constructed on top of the grass without damaging it.
Last year, Jack Draper lost to Casper Ruud in the final of the Madrid Open while Aryna Sabalenka took home the victory against Coco Gauff.
Real Madrid have a triple header away from home during the competition which enables the practice area to be built at their stadium.
The 36-time La Liga winners play away at Real Betis, Espanyol and Barcelona during that time period.
They will also play away in their first leg of the Champions league semi-final against Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain.
Club president Florentino Perez has always wanted to host a tennis match at the stadium, particularly featuring Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal.
He spoke on the new renovation recently and said: “We have invested €1.347 billion in the Bernabeu.
“It is already a source of income in itself.
“Furthermore, the club has made a significant contribution to the public economy, contributing €356 million to the Tax Office and Social Security.”
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, has voiced his hopes to become the president of Real Madrid himself one day.
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz is also a massive fan of Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants have to wait until April 4 to play again after the international break.
They currently sit second in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barcelona.
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