Wanda Metropolitano

Wanda Metropolitano is the recently opened new stadium of Atletico Madrid. It replaced Estadio Vicente Calderon, which lacked possibilities for expansion and modernisation being enclosed by a river and a motorway on one side and residential buildings on the other.

The stadium got built on the site of Estadio La Peineta, an athletics stadium with one large concrete stand. Parts of that stand were incorporated in the design of the new stadium, while the rest was demolished. The project was partly financed through the sale of the land of Estadio Vicente Calderon.

In December 2016, Atletico announced that their new stadium would be called Wanda Metropolitano, with Wanda being the sponsor name and Metropolitano a reference to their first proper stadium, Estadio Metropolitano. Wanda Metropolitano officially opened on 16 September 2017 with a league match between Atletico and Malaga (1-0).

As is common with modern European stadia, Wanda Metropolitano is designed in a bowl style when it comes to seating. The Fondo Norte and Fondo Sur sit behind the two goals at either end of the ground, whilst the Lateral Este and Lateral Oeste run alongside the pitch. There are three tiers all the way around the stadium, including a layer of boxes and executive suites.

Wanda Metropolitano is in the north-east of Madrid towards Barajas airport at roughly 10 kilometres from central Madrid.

The stadium is easily reached by metro. Station Estadio Metropolitano lies right next to the stadium. Estadio Metropolitano is a stop on the orange line 7, which runs north of central Madrid so from central Madrid a change is required at, for example, Pueblo Nuevo (line 5), Avenida de America (line 4, 6, and 9) or Gregorio Maranon (line 10).

Station Las Musas, also on line 7, is also at short walking distance from the stadium. Alternatively, the stadium can about just be walked to – about 25 minutes – from station Torre Arias, which lies on line 5.

Whereas the old Vicente Calderon was in a charming neighbourhood, the area around Wanda Metrpolitano is less appealing. Enclosed on one side by a motorway, and the other by a rather anonymous residential neighbourhood consisting of rows of large apartment blocks, it is no wonder that Atletico fans were reluctant to move here.

Of course, it being Spain, there’s the odd local place to eat or drink, but overall there is little reason to head to the stadium long in advance of the game.

I have been to Wanda Metropolitano once, this was for a Stadium Tour.