San Mamés stadium, located in Bilbao (Bizkaia), is the home ground for Athletic Club, a team with a unique philosophy and over 120 years of history.
The Club is an international referent, because of both its current facilities and the history of its legendary stadium, which was rebuilt in 2013, and is known throughout the world by the sobriquet ‘The Cathedral’.
The stadium has a capacity for 53,331 spectators, and was designed according to the most demanding standards, namely, those pertaining to UEFA’s Elite Category. It was recognised as the world’s best sports venue in 2015 at the World Architecture Festival, and Venue of the Year 2017 at the World Football Summit.
Discover moreOne of the outstanding features of this new San Mamés is the stadium’s middle terraces. It is an area that combines design, history and tradition in a modern and functional style. This middle area has several VIP zones arranged for enjoying the matches and savouring an unforgettable experience under the seal of San Mames BAT.
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1898 – 1913
In the early years of the 20th century, Athletic did not play in what we now consider to be proper grounds, but instead on makeshift pitches. The first of these pitches was near the mouth of the estuary in Lamiako (Leioa), which was followed by Jolaseta (Getxo). Yet Athletic’s overriding ambition was to have its own ground and, if possible, in the heart of Bilbao, as the pitches in Lamiako and Jolaseta were very far away from the city centre. The dream began to materialise when they rented a plot adjacent to the San Mamés retirement home.
Lamiako and Jolaseta, the first pitches
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The birth of San Mamés: the general meeting and foundation stone
Description of San Mamés in 1913, designed by the architect Manuel Smith
1913 – 2013
The Club initially rented the plot for a period of ten years from the heirs of Pedro Novia Salcedo, but this ended up extending to a hundred years. The ground, which initially held 7,000 spectators, underwent a continuous process of extensions and alterations. The main one was in 1952, and involved the building of the trademark arch, and the last one was the refurbishment in preparation for the 1982 World Cup, increasing its capacity to 45,000 spectators. In 2013, after 100 years and 3,695 matches, San Mamés, The Catedral, passed the baton on to the new San Mamés.
Purchase of San Mamés, and its arch
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The Cathedral of Football
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The farewell
2013 – Today
The new ground was built almost exactly on the same pot and continues to be an undisputed benchmark among football stadia of recognised prestige, living up to the sobriquet it has inherited, namely, The Cathedral. Both its modern, innovative and spectacular design, and its architecture and privileged location mean that the 53,000 fans packed into the stadium enjoy the full atmosphere of football. The essence of tradition dovetails harmoniously with modern expectations.
1898 – 1913
In the early years of the 20th century, Athletic did not play in what we now consider to be proper grounds, but instead on makeshift pitches. The first of these pitches was near the mouth of the estuary in Lamiako (Leioa), which was followed by Jolaseta (Getxo). Yet Athletic’s overriding ambition was to have its own ground and, if possible, in the heart of Bilbao, as the pitches in Lamiako and Jolaseta were very far away from the city centre. The dream began to materialise when they rented a plot adjacent to the San Mamés retirement home.
Lamiako and Jolaseta, the first pitches
Discover more
The birth of San Mamés: the general meeting and foundation stone
Discover more
Description of San Mamés in 1913, designed by the architect Manuel Smith
Discover more1913 – 2013
The Club initially rented the plot for a period of ten years from the heirs of Pedro Novia Salcedo, but this ended up extending to a hundred years. The ground, which initially held 7,000 spectators, underwent a continuous process of extensions and alterations. The main one was in 1952, and involved the building of the trademark arch, and the last one was the refurbishment in preparation for the 1982 World Cup, increasing its capacity to 45,000 spectators. In 2013, after 100 years and 3,695 matches, San Mamés, The Catedral, passed the baton on to the new San Mamés.
Purchase of San Mamés, and its arch
Discover more
The Cathedral of Football
Discover more
The farewell
Discover more2013 – Today
The new ground was built almost exactly on the same pot and continues to be an undisputed benchmark among football stadia of recognised prestige, living up to the sobriquet it has inherited, namely, The Cathedral. Both its modern, innovative and spectacular design, and its architecture and privileged location mean that the 53,000 fans packed into the stadium enjoy the full atmosphere of football. The essence of tradition dovetails harmoniously with modern expectations.
