The new Santiago Bernabéu, by the numbers: this is how €1.4B is made in one year

The new Bernabéu is no longer just a stadium, it's a true money-making machine. Real Madrid has turned its temple into a multifunctional center that keeps generating revenue and breaking records.

While other clubs dreamed of new stadiums, Madrid chose to renovate its own. A move that, as of today, has worked out perfectly. They took advantage of very low interest rates to finance the project, borrowed more than €1 billion (over $1.08 billion), and the result has been spectacular: a modern colossus that doesn't have anything to envy from any other sports venue on the planet.

The Bernabéu of the future is already here

The renovation has brought 4,000 more seats (4,000), an expanded museum, top-level stores, and VIP areas that offer exclusive experiences. But what makes the difference is underground: a retractable field that hides in an automated system. This way, the field can be removed and put back in a matter of hours.

Thanks to this, the stadium can host concerts, NBA games, or even NFL games. In fact, it's already confirmed that in 2025 the first official American football game in Spain will be held there.

World record: $1.4 billion (€1.3 billion) in revenue

With these improvements, Madrid has made history. In the 2024/25 season, it brought in $1.4 billion (€1.3 billion). No one had ever gone this far in professional sports. Not even the Dallas Cowboys, who the previous year reached $1.2 billion (€1.1 billion).

The key: diversification. Although revenue from television rights has dropped, profits from ticket sales, merchandising, and events have skyrocketed.

Florentino, master plan and debt under control

The stadium not only pays for itself. It also generates profits. On match days, more than $400 million (€370 million) a year is already being brought in, compared to the $169 million (€156 million) before the renovation. That's not counting what is earned from events, sponsorships, and brand appeal.

The club closed the season with a net profit of $28.5 million (€26.3 million) and enviable financial health. 43% of revenue goes to salaries, while other major clubs exceed 70%. In addition, Madrid has $200 million (€184 million) in cash and access to another $500 million (€460 million) if needed.

The only significant debt is the stadium's, and it's well structured: $71 million (€65 million) a year is paid and Bernabéu itself covers that amount without any problems. The rest of the club barely owes anything.

In short, Florentino has achieved what seemed impossible: a competitive, profitable club with a stadium that's much more than a stadium. The new Bernabéu is already the engine of Real Madrid and its future.