San Mamés Stadium, Football stadium in Bilbao, Spain
San Mamés is a modern football stadium in Bilbao featuring a distinctive white structure with illuminated LED panels that glow during matches. The venue seats approximately 53,000 spectators and incorporates covered seating areas along with multiple food and beverage outlets distributed across all four stands.
The original stadium was built in 1913 and served the club for more than a century. Construction of the new facility began in 2010 on adjacent land, allowing matches to continue uninterrupted while the modern structure took shape.
The stadium holds deep meaning for Athletic Bilbao supporters, who gather here to celebrate their regional identity through football. The club's distinctive choice to recruit only players with Basque roots or training shapes the community's sense of belonging and pride.
The stadium is easily accessible by public transport, making arrival straightforward for visitors. It helps to arrive early before events to locate your seating section and become familiar with the layout and facilities.
The stadium earned the nickname 'The Cathedral' because it stands on a site with remarkable historical roots. Medieval monks from Bilbao once cared for a lion on this very ground, giving the location an unusual spiritual connection.
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