San Mames Stadium
Bilbao, Spain
Formerly: La Catedral, Nuevo San Mamés, San Mamés Barria
The new San Mamés Stadium does not hide its past; it frames it. The capacity has grown since the original structure closed, now holding 53,331 spectators. The stadium was selected to host matches for UEFA Euro 2020, a tournament later postponed to 2021. It also hosted European Rugby Champions Cup finals, including the 2024 final between Leinster and Racing 92, which set a single-game attendance record for the venue with 52,327 spectators.
For the club, the move was a necessity. The original stadium, designed by architect Manuel María Smith and opened in 1913, had become too small. It hosted three Group 4 matches during the 1982 FIFA World Cup and later concerts, including one by AC/DC featuring guitarist Malcolm Young on his final performance. When the new ground opened on September 16, 2013, it offered a different kind of permanence. The official attendance record for a football match here is 52,114, set during a UEFA Europa League Quarter-final against Rangers FC on April 17, 2025. The stadium also hosted the Copa de la Reina match, setting a Spanish attendance record for a women's football match with 48,121 spectators.
The address remains tied to the city’s identity: Rafael Moreno 'Pitxitxi' Kalea, s/n.