San Mamés Stadium

The story of San Mames is the story of two stadiums and one uncompromising club that has kept one thing constant for over a century: only players of Basque origin may represent the team.

Construction and opening

The original San Mames opened in 1913 and served as Athletic Club's sacred home for more than nine decades. Ageing infrastructure and UEFA requirements prompted the decision to build a brand-new arena on the adjacent plot rather than renovate. The project was awarded to architects IDOM and the new stadium was officially inaugurated on 16 September 2013 with a league fixture against Celta Vigo. The old ground continued to operate in parallel while construction of all new sectors was completed, and the historic La Catedral was finally demolished in 2014.

Major renovations

The new arena was delivered in two construction phases -- the first stand opened in 2013, the full ring closed in 2014. The architecture responds to the urban grain of the city: the facade of translucent ETFE panels glows red and white -- the club's colours -- at night. In 2021 the stadium was a host venue for UEFA EURO 2020 (played in 2021), staging four Group E matches, which led to several accessibility and hospitality upgrades.

Notable moments

San Mames was selected as a UEFA EURO 2020 venue, hosting four group-stage matches including Spain vs Sweden. Athletic Club's greatest celebration at the new ground came with the Copa del Rey 2023 triumph -- the club's first domestic cup win since 1984 -- which was followed by a victory parade through Bilbao attended by hundreds of thousands. The stadium also hosted memorable UEFA Europa League European nights that showcased Basque footballing passion to a continental audience.

The atmosphere at San Mames is consistently cited as one of the most intense in European football. The name La Catedral is not merely a nickname -- it captures the cathedral-like reverence with which the Basque public regards its football home.

Fan culture

Athletic Club possesses one of the most distinctive fan identities in Spanish football. The Basque-only policy -- the club signs exclusively players of Basque heritage -- creates an unusually strong emotional bond between players and supporters. The member-owned club model ensures that the stands are filled with genuine community supporters rather than corporate guests. The Herri Norte (North End) ultras section drives the vocal displays, tifo and choreographies. On big European nights, hundreds of fans gather outside with drums and chants hours before kick-off, turning the approach streets into a pre-match festival.

Big matches

The new San Mames has hosted significant European fixtures in the UEFA Europa League, including tense knockout ties against major sides. The stadium's proudest moment remains the Copa del Rey 2023 final victory and the enormous civic celebration that followed in Bilbao. The Basque Derby against Real Sociedad -- known locally as El Derbi Vasco -- is one of the most intensely charged rivalries in Spanish football and produces an atmosphere that far exceeds what the stadium's capacity might suggest.

Bilbao is well connected by air and rail, and reaching San Mames from the city centre takes just a few minutes.

How to get there

• Metro: San Mames station on Bilbao Metro Lines 1 and 2 sits directly beneath the stadium -- the quickest option.
• Tram: EuskoTran Line T1 (San Mames stop) connects the city centre and the waterfront to the arena.
• Bus: Bilbobus city buses serve stops in the immediate vicinity of the ground.
• Car: Parking near the stadium is limited; public transport or nearby car parks in the surrounding streets are recommended.
• Walking: From the Guggenheim Museum waterfront the walk takes approximately 15-20 minutes.

Tickets and tours

Match tickets for Athletic Club are sold through the official club website (athletic-club.eus). Club members receive priority access. Stadium Tours are available on weekdays outside matchdays, covering the dressing rooms, players' tunnel and VIP areas. The Athletic Club Museum is located within the stadium complex and is included in the full tour package.

Visitor tips

• Is it family-friendly? Yes, dedicated family sections and comprehensive disabled access are available.
• When to arrive? Plan to arrive at least one hour before kick-off -- security checks are thorough and queues can be long for big matches.
• Language? Stadium tour and shop staff handle basic English, but knowing a few words of Spanish or Basque is appreciated in the surrounding bars.
• Food tip? The streets around the stadium are lined with bars serving pintxos -- Basque-style bread-topped tapas -- making for an ideal pre-match ritual.