Real Madrid have updated what it means to be a modern ‘superclub’ – and here’s how | OneFootball

When Real Madrid officially cut the ribbon on the new Santiago Bernabeu in late 2023, the football world clapped eyes on the future of stadium design: retractable roof, underground pitch, infinite screens and a fully modernised entertainment hub.

But beneath that shiny technological veneer is another, quieter revolution – one in which sustainability is no longer a box-ticking afterthought but a core part of how one of the richest clubs on Earth define themselves in the 21st century.

From the moment Florentino Perez embarked on what would become one of world football’s largest renovation projects, the ambitious vision extended well beyond gates, seats and commercial lounges. Real Madrid saw the Bernabeu transformation as an opportunity to turn elite sport’s carbon problem into a competitive asset – one that speaks to investors, fans and partners alike.

The result isn’t simply a stadium fit for global dominance, but a case study in how infrastructure can be reshaped to meet environmental and social expectations in an era of intensifying ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) scrutiny.

The sheer scale of the Bernabeu overhaul – nearing €1.35 billion in invested capital – was always going to be newsworthy on its own. Financial statements for the 2024-25 season show Real Madrid posting record revenues in excess of €1.18 billion, even as they absorb the costs of this gargantuan project. That economic muscle allows them to pursue sustainability not as a chore, but as a strategic advantage.

Central to Real Madrid’s sustainability narrative is the stadium itself. The renovated Bernabeu was built with cutting-edge energy efficiency in mind. Its bioclimatic facade and retractable roof were designed not only to offer year-round comfort for fans, but also to reduce unnecessary energy demands through better insulation and natural temperature regulation. Solar panels and rainwater collection systems have been integrated to cut reliance on external power and water supplies, while the embrace of LED lighting throughout the venue has dramatically lowered electrical consumption.

The club’s own sustainability reporting underscores these priorities. According to Madrid’s 2023-24 Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report, technological and service standards at the stadium are supported by connections to 100 per cent renewable energy sources, a relatively rare feat in elite sports venues. Real also deploy smart irrigation systems and soil sensors to optimise water use and minimise waste, and they invest in biological pest control to reduce chemical treatments across pitches and green areas.

Yet the green revolution at Madrid doesn’t stop at the stadium walls. The club’s sprawling training complex – Real Madrid City in Valdebebas – has become a testing ground for low-impact maintenance too.

A global partnership with battery-powered equipment specialists Kress and Worx means that over 1.2 million square metres of landscaped space is now tended with zero-emission robotic mowers and smart GPS-guided electric tools. These innovations eliminate local carbon emissions and reduce noise pollution, further blurring the line between high performance and environmental responsibility.

Such initiatives are propelling Madrid into a burgeoning set of expectations around environmental stewardship in sport. Clubs of Real’s size have always been able to attract capital and command global media attention; now they are also under pressure to demonstrate that their influence isn’t purely financial. Brands, sponsors and institutional investors increasingly insist that partners reveal environmental impact, energy profiles and carbon footprints before signing deals – a dynamic that suits Real Madrid’s ambitions as much as it challenges their rivals.

There is also a deeper philosophical shift at play. For decades the club’s identity was almost exclusively tied to triumphs on the pitch and a galactic collection of trophies. Today, the Real Madrid brand is increasingly measured by global fans and corporate partners against modern yardsticks: carbon consciousness, community integration, technological innovation and ESG transparency.

In a world where sustainability issues are headline material in boardrooms as well as newspapers, Real’s willingness to talk openly about their reductions in water consumption, energy sourcing and emissions – and to publish those figures – sets them apart in football’s uppermost echelon.

But there are limits and tensions in this pathway too. Though Madrid pushed hard to integrate non-sporting events into the Bernabeu’s business model, its initial concert schedule was halted amid noise complaints from neighbours – a reminder that environmental responsibility isn’t just about green technologies but also social sustainability and coexistence with local communities.

Even so, the club’s broader contribution cannot be understated. By expanding pedestrian zones, planting hundreds of trees and investing millions in urban improvements around the stadium – projects fully funded by the club – they have reshaped how fans interact with the city environment. Efforts to modernise nearby public spaces and improve stormwater systems are symptomatic of a strategy that marries economic, environmental and civic goals.

Football, for all its global glamour, is part of a planet wrestling with climate change, energy scarcity and urban pressures. For Real Madrid – the sport’s perennial standard-bearer – sustainability is no longer a side project; it is an extension of what it means to be a “superclub” in a transitioning world.

In redefining success beyond trophies to include long-term environmental leadership, Los Blancos may just be showing the rest of the industry how to score in the decades ahead. As global competition intensifies, the question is no longer whether clubs should care about sustainability, but whether they can afford not to.