By Mark Baber
October 16 – Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed that a decision will be made on which project gets the go ahead for the planned refurbishment of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu by the end of October, with the club now looking to find a sponsor to add their name to the stadium.
A plan to redevelop the Bernabeu was approved by club members last year and architects have submitted four different plans which are currently being considered.
Perez told Spanish sports programme Punto Pelota: “We want to award the project later this month. There are four candidates for the improvements, and if they hurry up then we’ll see if by the summer we can start work on what will be something very emblematic for the 21st century Bernabeu.
“We are working on a sponsor. We are on with it. At best the stadium will have a name added to it if we can find one.”
Reports suggest Dubai-based Emirates Airlines are favourites to add the Bernabeu to their sponsorship portfolio, after taking over as Madrid’s chief sponsor in the summer.
The stadium was initially known as the Nuevo Estadio Chamartin, before being renamed after the club-president eight years later. The club would be very reluctant to drop the current name , but it was suggested last year, although denied by the club at the time, that the stadium could be known as the ‘Fly Emirates Santiago Bernabeu’ in a deal worth over €50 million per year, a sum which would be very welcome for the club. Real Madrid were the first club to break through the €500 million per annum revenue barrier, but carry debt of €590 million.
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