September 15 – Atlético Madrid open their new 67,703-capacity Estadio Wanda Metropolitano stadium tomorrow with a 12 hour celebration that will include their first home match of the season against Malaga.
Atlético have been playing for the last 50 years at Estadio Vicente Calderon. The move to the new stadium will boost the club’s commercial opportunities in a modern stadium environment.
Although ready to play matches, the final work on the stadium is not expected to complete until September. Having played their first three matches away from home, Atlético now have four games on the bounce in their new stadium.
The opening party begins on Saturday at 11:30am with a children’s Fan Zone on the north-east side of the stadium, a music festival on the south-east side, and the Walk of Legends on the west, featuring a presentation of the club’s legendary players.
The official store club will also open to fans for the first time from 10am
Pre-match entertainment will include an Air Force fly past before kick-off. The match, which which the Rojiblancos will hoping will finish with a win to ignite their sseason as well as the stadium, will be followed by fireworks.
This stadium has been a long time coming. Initially put forward to planning in 2011, the club had hoped it would be completed by 2015. That date was put back until 2017 and required new investors in the shape of Wanda to complete the build that has cost an estimated €240 million.
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