LALIGA Special (3): The Humanity and Majesty of Spanish Football Stadiums

Like other European countries, Spain also boasts many magnificent and luxurious stadiums to be proud of. Tall buildings towering with tens of thousands of supporter seats are commonly found in Spain, a country with a strong football culture.

Metropolitano Stadium, the home of LALIGA club Atletico Madrid, was filled with tens of thousands of supporters eager to watch the match against Real Betis on Sunday (18/5/2025) evening. The supporters have been pampered with the convenience of accessing the stadium using public transportation. The Madrid City Government has provided various transportation options such as buses and metro trains.

For those who wish to be more comfortable, taxis from the city center are available. The spatial arrangement of the stadium, which is close to the toll access, has also been designed to prevent congestion on match days. At every crossing point, there are stoplights to ensure that pedestrians can cross safely.

Not only that, access to the stadium has been made abundant to prevent the accumulation of supporters at a single point. The Metropolitano Stadium is located in the northeast and is approximately 18 kilometers from the city center of Madrid. Surrounding the stadium is a vast expanse of open land without the presence of street vendors.

“It’s always like this on match days. However, the facilities make things easier. The club plans well so that we can be comfortable when we go to the stadium. There are times when I leave home an hour before the match and still arrive before kick-off,” said Jose Galan (39), an Atletico supporter.

Galan and his wife brought their two sons to the stadium. In Spain, football matches have become an attractive form of entertainment on weekends. It is no surprise that among the thousands of Atletico supporters, many fans also brought their wives and babies. There is not the slightest concern that the match would turn chaotic and endanger the safety of families.

From a distance, the magnificent Metropolitano Stadium stands tall. Next to the stadium, a giant Atletico flag flutters in the wind. As one approaches the stadium, the aura of luxury is immediately felt, recalling the grandeur of this stadium that was inaugurated in 2017.

The roof is of the type that meets the ring, similar to the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta. As much as 96 percent of the stadium seats are covered by the roof, allowing supporters to be unconcerned about rain. Three giant television screens adorn the upper part of the stands. The quality of the loudspeakers used for announcements is not deafening, but very clear to hear.

The Metropolitano Stadium has just completed renovations, one of which includes enhancing the lighting levels. The Atletico management has increased the number of lights to illuminate the field. There is a suspended cable above the field that is tied to the four corners of the stadium's pillars. This cable serves as a platform for placing aerial cameras to capture images from close range.

Not only at the Metropolitano Stadium, all stadiums in Spain have been designed to accommodate broadcasting technology. Each stadium can have more than 30 high-resolution cameras to broadcast matches. In addition, there are also around 38 cameras distributed around the field and stadium to produce 360-degree videometric replays.

Interestingly, the grandeur of stadiums in Spain is not solely about the magnificence of the architectural structure, the completeness of facilities, and the advanced technology embedded within. More than that, the splendor of the stadium is interpreted as an effort to provide a safe, comfortable, and entertaining football spectacle for the community and their families.

There is a certain humanitarian aspect that is also hidden behind the grandeur of the Metropolitano. This was evident when Atletico hosted Betis. In the middle of the second half, the match suddenly stopped. Betis midfielder, Isco, and Atletico captain, Koke, approached the national police officers of Spain at the edge of the field. They engaged in a serious conversation. Moments later, the other players also moved to the edge of the field.

There were no injured players or spectators entering the field, so the cause of the match stoppage remains a mystery for most of the audience. About 5 minutes later, the match committee announced that a supporter had suffered a heart attack. The spectator was immediately evacuated from the stands to receive medical assistance.

Despite having received treatment, the match was not immediately resumed. The players on the field patiently waited for the latest developments while warming up. After a while, the organizers announced that the spectator had been properly attended to and was safe. The entire stadium, both supporters of Atletico and Betis, applauded joyfully. The match was then resumed with an additional time of up to 15 minutes.

In addition to being grand and luxurious, stadiums in Spain are indeed designed to be safe for spectators. The distance of the Metropolitano Stadium from the hospital is relatively close. Each door and stand position is designed to provide first aid as quickly as possible in the event of an incident.

To ensure that there is no commotion during the match, supporters are strictly screened. No ticketless spectators are allowed to sneak in. Before entering the stands, they must pass through layered inspections to ensure that no dangerous items are brought in. Vendors are also instructed to remove the caps from mineral water bottles when purchased by visitors. The aim is to prevent them from throwing bottles onto the field.

Ensuring the safety of everyone involved in the matches is the primary goal of every football game in Spain. Luxury and grandeur are not merely symbols of display; rather, they are intended to make football a means of entertainment that is safe, affordable, and accessible to the public.