Real Madrid to start renovating Santiago Bernabeu stadium this year

As Real Madrid enter a new era, the stadium is set for a facelift

Real Madrid will begin renovation works on the Santiago Bernabéu stadium this year if talks set to take place at the end of the month go as planned. The 81,000 seater stadium will be given a retractable roof and metallic outer shell that will modernise the appearance of one of Europe's most historic grounds. At a meeting on September 23, Madrid president Florentino Perez will ask members for permission to obtain credit to cover the costs and shortly afterwards, work will begin. The whole project should begin before the end of this year take around four years to complete, according to Marca.  The main feature of the project will be a 360 degree scoreboard around the interior of the stadium. Other plans within the £500m project include giving the executive boxes a revamp and creating a fans' area outside the stadium, while the stadium's capacity will reportedly remain at 81,000. The whole project is expected to plunge the European champions into debt for the next 35 years.