Featured image credit: IDOM
San Mamés, home of Athletic Club, has been voted the best stadium in LaLiga in a survey organised by Spanish newspaper Marca, in which more than 76,000 fans participated.
The Bilbao stadium, designed by IDOM for Athletic Club, topped the ranking in the three criteria evaluated: aesthetics, atmosphere and ‘miedo escénico’ – the feeling it conveys to the spectators. The survey was launched by Marca on March 17 and the results were published two days later.
IDOM said the results are a recognition not only of the visual and emotional impact of the stadium, but also of its architectural, functional and sustainable design.
An icon of contemporary architecture and local ownership, the new San Mamés was designed as a stadium that honours the history of its predecessor, integrates into the urban fabric of Bilbao and creates a vibrant environment for football and the city.
With a capacity of more than 53,000 spectators, the stadium features a translucent backlit façade, a lightweight mixed-metal roof structure, and an enclosed grandstand that maximises acoustic pressure and visibility.
The stadium, which will be a host venue during the 2030 World Cup, also achieved UEFA Category 4 status and was the first European football stadium to receive LEED certification for its environmental sustainability.
“San Mamés is much more than a stadium. It is an emotive symbol for Bilbao, for Athletic and for its people. Our challenge was to create a space that excites without saying a word,” said César Azcárate, IDOM architect and project manager.
A supporter of a rival club told Marca: “The field is impressive. It is modern, beautiful, and roars from the moment you enter. Going to San Mamés is a brutal experience as a rival fan.”
This recognition is a source of pride for IDOM and also an impulse to continue designing spaces that combine architecture, engineering and collective emotion.
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