From Estadio Chamartín to Santiago Bernabeú
After its foundation in 1902 the club moved in its first years between some minor grounds before moving to the 'Campo de O'Donnell' in 1912.This ground remained its home ground for eleven years. After these years the club made a move again, this time to the 'Campo de Ciudad Lineal', a small ground with a capacity of 8,000 spectators. After twelve months the club moved again. This new ground would make a longer appearance. The 'Estadio Chamartín' was inaugurated on 17 May 1923 with a match of Real Madrid against Newcastle United. In this stadium, which hosted 22,500 spectators, Real Madrid celebrated its first Spanish league title.After those successes, the 1943 elected president Santiago Bernabéu decided that the Estadio Chamartín wasn't big enough for the ambitions of the club. A new stadium was built and was inaugurated on 14 December 1947.This was the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as it is known today, although it didn't acquire this name until 1955.
The first match that was played in the new stadium was between Real Madrid and Portuguese club Belenenses. Real won the match 3–1, and the first goal was scored by Sabino Barinaga. The initial capacity was 75,300.
The capacity has changed frequently, peaking at 120,000 after a 1953 expansion.Since then, there have been a number of reductions due to modernisations (the last standing places went away in 1998–99 in response to UEFA regulations which forbids standing at matches in the UEFA competition), countered to some extent by expansions. The last change was an increase of about five thousand to a capacity of 80,400, effected in 2003. A plan to add a retractable roof has been announced.
The Bernabéu has hosted the 1957, 1969 and 1980 European Cup finals, the 1964 European Championship final, and the 1982 FIFA World Cup final.The stadium has its own Madrid Metro station along the 10 line called Santiago Bernabéu. Its location, in the heart of Madrid's business district, is quite unusual for a football stadium.On 9 May 2006 the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium was inaugurated at the City of Madrid where Real Madrid usually trains. The inaugural match was played between Real Madrid and Stade de Reims, a rematch of the 1956 European Cup final. Real Madrid won the inaugural match 6–1 with goals from Sergio Ramos, Antonio Cassano (2), Roberto Soldado (2), and Jose Manuel Jurado. The venue is now part of the Ciudad Real Madrid, the club's new training facilities located outside Madrid in Valdebebas. The stadium holds 6,000 people and it is named after former Real footballer Alfredo Di Stéfano. The Bernabeu has recently been upgraded to Elite Football Stadium status by UEFA.