The football ground stood for over five decades before it was torn down
A football stadium that stood for more than 50 years has been demolished(Image: Getty)
A football ground that stood for over half a century has been torn down and replaced with a supermarket and a public park. The Vicente Calderón Stadium served as Atlético de Madrid’s home for 51 years, opening its doors in 1966 and remaining the club’s base until 2017.
Uniquely situated on the banks of the Manzanares River in the Spanish capital, the stadium was perhaps best known for one of its most distinctive features – the M-30 motorway, which ran directly beneath one of its main stands. During their tenure at the ground, Atletico enjoyed considerable success, claiming six LaLiga titles and seven Copa del Rey trophies.
At its height, the Vicente Calderón could accommodate approximately 66,000 supporters. From 2001, capacity was steadily reduced, and by the time it shut its gates in 2017, it held just under 55,000 fans, the Express reports.
Following Atletico’s relocation to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in 2017, demolition work got under way, with the stands being dismantled section by section. The process required careful management due to the operational motorway running beneath the structure and its close proximity to the river.
The stadium was completely demolished in 2020, with more than 90% of the concrete and steel salvaged from the structure being recycled and repurposed in the foundations and paving of the new development.
A significant element of the transformation involved rerouting the M-30, with the stretch of motorway that had run beneath the stadium redirected into a 600-metre tunnel. By diverting traffic below ground, the city freed up a substantial surface area, creating the foundation for new green space.
The site is now known as the Atletico de Madrid Park. Thousands of indigenous trees have been planted to aid carbon absorption.
The park includes cycle paths, expansive play areas and open spaces designed for leisure activities.
Traces of the stadium remain. A commemorative plaque has been put up in the vicinity, and a football sculpted in stone marks the precise location where the centre of the pitch once stood.
While the riverside section was transformed into parkland, other parts of the former site underwent redevelopment for residential and commercial purposes.
The area previously occupied by the stadium offices was converted into mixed-use developments.
Contemporary residential buildings have been constructed, with sizeable commercial units incorporated into the ground floors.
A Lidl supermarket now occupies part of the site. Adjacent to the supermarket, a medical centre and additional amenities have been established.
