El proper June 5, 2027, the’Metropolitano Stadium will host its second final of the Champions League in eight years. An unusual decision by UEFA, which, by choosing the same venue in such a short space of time, puts the home of’Atlètic de Madrid in the main spotlight of world football. For the red-and-white club, it is a point of pride that European football's governing body has backed their fantastic stadium and the work of those who are part of it, but it also implies a commitment: that the works on the Sports City are ready so that the week of the final is a success.
The entity's General Director of Revenue and Operations, Oscar Mayo, clarified the status of the works and announced that the first team will train there permanently next season. The Champions League final in the coming year has been key to accelerating the work, as the European body urged the club to clear the surroundings of the venue for the event. In the final of 2019, many of the events around the match were held in the center of Madrid —between Callao, Sol and Plaza Mayor—, whereas now the intention is to move everything to the Metropolitano, thanks to the improvements incorporated into the grounds and the spaces of the large complex.
«It is a very special year. The Champions League final will be at the stadium, we must be proud that it is taking place at our venue. Very few times in history has it been repeated, they choose it because of the fantastic stadium we have and because of everyone who works on it. If all goes well, it will coincide with the opening of the first part of the Sports City.».
A Champions League final as a catalyst for the works
Over the last three or four months, the works on the Sports City have gained very visible momentum. Sources close to the project confirm a clear increase in the number of workers and hours invested, a pace that is largely explained by the lack of permits that marked 2025 and a few months of 2026. This «rush» is due to the need to have the site and its facilities ready to host not only the match, but all sponsor activities and the UEFA fan fest without having to move them to the center of the capital, as was done eight years ago.
The acceleration not only seeks to meet European demands, but also responds to an urban transformation project in the neighborhood of Canillejas. The club wants the Sports City to be not just a training environment for professional football, but an open space for citizens, with facilities that will be handed over to the’Madrid City Council as part of the land agreement.
Opening schedule: from the High Performance Center to the large concert venue
The first stage of the project will be inaugurated in the summer of 2027. The opening of the High Performance Center, municipal facilities, sports areas, multipurpose courts, golf center, wave pool for surfing, and one of the main car parks—one of the recurring complaints from fans in recent years—is expected. This first phase will coincide, if all goes according to plan, with the holding of the Champions League final.
At the end of 2027, a good portion of the remaining leisure, sports, and service facilities will open, while the horizon of 2030 will mark the final phase of the complex, including the large venue for concerts and events. Atlético's first team will already be able to train permanently in these facilities next season, laying the foundation for a model that combines professional performance and grassroots sports.
Madrid as a sports epicenter and the path to 2030
The transformation of the Metropolitano and its surroundings is part of a Madrid that is establishing itself as a sports capital, where infrastructure and large-scale events coexist with the recognition of sports values. In this sense, the region has been the scene of awards such as the Siete Estrellas del Deporte Award, where figures like Sergio Rodríguez have been honored for their career and link to the capital. This connection between elite football and sports in general reinforces the idea that the Sports City is not an isolated project, but part of a broader ecosystem.
Atlético de Madrid's long-term vision is to turn this space into a benchmark not only for the club, but for the entire city. Checking permits, coordinating with UEFA, and the involvement of local institutions will be key so that the 2030 the Sports City is fully operational, offering sports, leisure, and concerts in an environment that eight years ago was very different. The 2027 Champions League final will therefore be just the first major milestone of a project that aims to change the face of Canillejas and the history of the club.
The development of high-caliber sports infrastructure is also part of a broader debate on the future of sports practice in Spain, where the institutionalization of values and support for new generations are a priority, as highlighted in the 2025 National Sports Awards. At the same time, the recognition of outstanding careers in the capital, such as that of Sergio Rodríguez with the Siete Estrellas del Deporte Award of the Community of Madrid, shows that Madrid is committed to sport in all its dimensions.
