Estadio San Mamés
Estadio San Mamés, nicknamed La Catedral, is the home of Athletic Club (de Bilbao). The stadium has a capacity of 40,000 seats.
Construction of the stadium began in 1912 and on the 21st of August 1913 the stadium officially opened with a match between Athletic Club and the Spanish champions of that year, Racing Club de Irun. The stadium counted with a capacity of 7,000 places at its opening.
The ground got gradually expanded in the following decades, however the most significant developments date from 1953 when the main stand, with its characteristic arch, was constructed. In the 20 years that followed the other three stands too were to be completely rebuilt.
A last major renovation was performed for the 1982 World Cup, during which Bilbao was one of the host cities. Three matches during the first group phase were played at the stadium.
Its capacity back then was 46,000, however this was later reduced to the current 40,000 due to the implementation of UEFA safety requirements and the conversion into an all-seater stadium.
Athletic Club has recently started the construction of a new stadium close to the site of the current one. The new stadium is set to have a capacity of about 54,000 seats, and it expected to be fully completed in 2015, though Athletic expects to be able to play its home matches at the stadium from the 2013/2014 season.
Getting there
Estadio San Mamés is located in central Bilbao. The stadium lies about 2 kilometres east of Bilbao’s old city centre, but closer to its main shopping areas, and also at just a 15-minute walk from Bilbao’s famous Guggenheim museum.
It is no more than a 30-minute walk to the stadium from most city centre areas as well as Bilbao’s two main railway stations which lie next to each other. Following the shopping street Gran Via east will get you to the stadium.
Alternatively the stadium can be reached by metro. Both Bilbao’s two metro lines pass the stadium. Take the metro at Casco Viejo in the old centre or at Abando at the railway stations, and get off after a few stops at station San Mamés.
The stadium can furthermore be reached from the Guggenheim museum by tram (Euskotran). This tram line, which runs along the banks of the river Nervión, also passes the old city centre and the train stations.
By car, the stadium can be easily reached coming from the A-8 motorway. Take exit 117 toward Bilbao, and drive up north the Avenida Sabino Arnana. After about 600 metres the stadium will be one block to your left.
Address: Felipe Serrate s/n, Bilbao
Tickets
Tickets for Athletic Club matches can be bought at the ticket booths at the stadium. These tend to be open (assuming a Sunday evening match) on Friday from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Saturday from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, and Sunday from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and from approximately 2 hours before the match. Which means that for many matches tickets can also be bought at the gates of the stadium before the match.
Athletic Club achieves consistent average attendances of about 35,000-37,000 and regularly sells out the important matches.
Ticket prices range from €36.00 for the short ends to between €47.00 and €75.00 for the long ends.
Stadium tours
Athletic Club offers guided tours round the stadium that include the home dressing room, press room, and dugouts. The stadium furthermore houses the Athletic Club museum and trophy room.
Tours leave Tuesdays to Saturdays at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:15 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm, and 6:15 pm. In the winter months the last two tours leave 15 minutes earlier. On Sundays tours leave at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:15 pm. The museum is opened roughly around the same hours. On matchdays the museum closes in the afternoon, and neither are there any tours after 1:15 pm.
The tour costs €6.00. For more information and bookings call +34 94 441 39 54 or email saladetrofeos@fundacionathleticclub.net.
Relevant Internet links:
Athletic-club.net – Official website of Athletic Club.
Bilbao.net – Tourism website of the Bilbao city council.
Metrobilbao.com – Information about the Bilbao metro.
Euskotren.es – Information about the Euskotran system.
