Vicente Calderón Stadium

Historia

The Vicente Calderón Stadium was the home stadium of Atlético Madrid from its completion in 1966 to 2017, with a current seating capacity of 54,907 and located on the banks of the Manzanares, in the Arganzuela district of Madrid, Spain. The stadium was originally called the Estadio Manzanares, but this was later changed to the Vicente Calderón Stadium, in honour of their longterm President Vicente Calderón.HistoryTo finance the new stadium, Atlético Madrid had to make a debt issue in 1958 in the form of mortgage bonds that were underwritten mostly by club shareholders and members. On 17 March 1961, Javier Barroso bought land for the construction of a new stadium, to replace the Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid. In the same year, work began on the new stadium. The ground opened in 1966, and was named the Estadio del Manzanares until 1972.A notable, and rather spectacular feature of the Vicente Calderón, is that the M-30 dual carriageway, running from the South Node Toledo Bridge, passes below one of the main stands.Future change of venueOn 30 July 2007, Atlético Madrid, Mahou brewery and Ayuntamiento de Madrid signed an agreement to reclassify the land that is currently occupied by the Vicente Calderón stadium and the Mahou brewery, agreeing that Atlético would move within three years to the Estadio Olímpico de Madrid, better known as Estadio La Peineta, which was to be renovated in preparation for Atlético's tenancy. After reconstruction, La Peineta holds 73,000 spectators and features fully covered stands. The Vicente Calderón Stadium is soon to be demolished, and a park will be built in its place, which is to be named the 'Park Atlético Madrid'. Atlético will then move to La Peineta the following season.