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Atletico Madrid’s stunning new home highlights West Ham inadequacies
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Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer
The Game Daily: Architects of English stadiums could learn a thing or two from their Spanish and Italian counterparts
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Europe has a new darling on the circuit. Wanda, as some call Atletico Madrid’s new ground, or Estadio Metropolitano, as Uefa terms it, looks right at home as a leading European venue, worthy of hosting the 2019 Champions League final, and also as the residency of Atletico’s famously passionate supporters.
It was impossible to sit and admire the ground, and the atmosphere, without feeling even more how the English have messed up the London Stadium as a home for football. West Ham United supporters, if they ever visit Wanda, will surely sigh and think “we could have done this” on a wonderful site at Stratford but for too many political agendas, and the powerful lobby for athletics which has so badly compromised West Ham’s move.
New stadia, such as the London Stadium, can struggle to generate atmosphere because many of the fans are too far from the pitch, and Wembley, partly because the modern demand is for more legroom, a shallower rake. The Juventus Stadium goes against this trend, providing more of an intense atmosphere with the fans close to the pitch, and it is no surprise to learn that the architect is a Juventus fan, albeit in a practice based in Rome. He gets football and what fans want.
The design of Atletico’s Wanda Stadium lends itself to a better atmosphere
The design of Atletico’s Wanda Stadium lends itself to a better atmosphere
David Ramos/Getty Images
Wanda combines the best of both worlds, allowing for a large capacity, touching 67,000, with greater revenue stream, and yet with the right acoustics and size to ensure that the noise reverberates. Chelsea fans up in the gods yesterday could be heard, and that was hardly surprising given the quality of their performance that deserved loud acclaim. Noise carries there.
But it was the reaction of the home fans that will make Wanda a success. Atletico have clearly prepared well for their arrival, perhaps learning from the teething problems of the London Stadium. Their fans are famed for the noise they stirred all around their wonderfully atmospheric, if crumbling, old home, the Vicente Calderon, but the hardcore are behind one goal and it is quite a sight with the red and white flags, and a You’ll Never Walk Alone banner, and a mass of supporters leaping up and down. It’s like the front of an Idles gig.
Architecturally pleasing, with its slightly elliptical feel, and lit-up awnings, Wanda makes an immediate impression on those arriving walk up to this raised sporting citadel. There is plenty to celebrate Atletico’s history on the outside from a massive flag the size of a tennis court which has fans stopping and staring, open-mouthed. There are plenty of pictures outside of the current squad. Underfoot there is a walk of fame with plaques celebrating players who have made 100 or more appearances. It’s not the Calderon, where fans had a long-established watering hole, but the residential area of 500 metres, a honeycomb of tight streets, has plenty of bars being colonized by Atletico fans.
Inside, Wanda has little decor or club insignia, something which will surely come as the club settle in. There is still snagging going on.
The fans are too far away from the pitch at West Ham’s London Stadium
The fans are too far away from the pitch at West Ham’s London Stadium
Reuters/Matthew Childs
There was some magnificent old artefacts on the walls of the Vicente Calderon and also plenty of dusty and empty blanks but pictures of past greats will surely arrive and add to the feeling of home. Bristol City’s brilliant attention to detail in the transformation of Ashton Gate is a lesson to many; huge images of club legends hang from the ceilings.
The London Stadium has plenty of imagery about West Ham, and the pictures on the outside are eye-catching. West Ham fans have also shown they can create a good atmosphere there as during the matches with Tottenham Hotspur, certainly last season. As ever with a new building, it’s not just about the concrete, it’s about the residents’ reaction to it. Atletico fans will undoubtedly miss the Vicente Calderon but know Wanda is the future, for financial reasons as well as safety. There is some scepticism, but there is also an embracing of their new home. On the large balcony of the top tier, there is a stunning view towards Madrid centre, and couples posed for pictures during the sunset. Wanda has a romantic streak.
If West Ham fans can somehow acquire that generosity of mindset, the London Stadium has a chance as a football venue, but in the cold light of day, and with the team underperforming, all its structural flaws as a rousing house of football will be highlighted. The Spanish look to have got it right with Wanda, focusing on one sport, and building a home fit for Atletico fans. A very English muddle looks to have let down West Ham supporters.
new
Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer
The Game Daily: Architects of English stadiums could learn a thing or two from their Spanish and Italian counterparts
Share
Save
Europe has a new darling on the circuit. Wanda, as some call Atletico Madrid’s new ground, or Estadio Metropolitano, as Uefa terms it, looks right at home as a leading European venue, worthy of hosting the 2019 Champions League final, and also as the residency of Atletico’s famously passionate supporters.
It was impossible to sit and admire the ground, and the atmosphere, without feeling even more how the English have messed up the London Stadium as a home for football. West Ham United supporters, if they ever visit Wanda, will surely sigh and think “we could have done this” on a wonderful site at Stratford but for too many political agendas, and the powerful lobby for athletics which has so badly compromised West Ham’s move.
New stadia, such as the London Stadium, can struggle to generate atmosphere because many of the fans are too far from the pitch, and Wembley, partly because the modern demand is for more legroom, a shallower rake. The Juventus Stadium goes against this trend, providing more of an intense atmosphere with the fans close to the pitch, and it is no surprise to learn that the architect is a Juventus fan, albeit in a practice based in Rome. He gets football and what fans want.
The design of Atletico’s Wanda Stadium lends itself to a better atmosphere
The design of Atletico’s Wanda Stadium lends itself to a better atmosphere
David Ramos/Getty Images
Wanda combines the best of both worlds, allowing for a large capacity, touching 67,000, with greater revenue stream, and yet with the right acoustics and size to ensure that the noise reverberates. Chelsea fans up in the gods yesterday could be heard, and that was hardly surprising given the quality of their performance that deserved loud acclaim. Noise carries there.
But it was the reaction of the home fans that will make Wanda a success. Atletico have clearly prepared well for their arrival, perhaps learning from the teething problems of the London Stadium. Their fans are famed for the noise they stirred all around their wonderfully atmospheric, if crumbling, old home, the Vicente Calderon, but the hardcore are behind one goal and it is quite a sight with the red and white flags, and a You’ll Never Walk Alone banner, and a mass of supporters leaping up and down. It’s like the front of an Idles gig.
Architecturally pleasing, with its slightly elliptical feel, and lit-up awnings, Wanda makes an immediate impression on those arriving walk up to this raised sporting citadel. There is plenty to celebrate Atletico’s history on the outside from a massive flag the size of a tennis court which has fans stopping and staring, open-mouthed. There are plenty of pictures outside of the current squad. Underfoot there is a walk of fame with plaques celebrating players who have made 100 or more appearances. It’s not the Calderon, where fans had a long-established watering hole, but the residential area of 500 metres, a honeycomb of tight streets, has plenty of bars being colonized by Atletico fans.
Inside, Wanda has little decor or club insignia, something which will surely come as the club settle in. There is still snagging going on.
The fans are too far away from the pitch at West Ham’s London Stadium
The fans are too far away from the pitch at West Ham’s London Stadium
Reuters/Matthew Childs
There was some magnificent old artefacts on the walls of the Vicente Calderon and also plenty of dusty and empty blanks but pictures of past greats will surely arrive and add to the feeling of home. Bristol City’s brilliant attention to detail in the transformation of Ashton Gate is a lesson to many; huge images of club legends hang from the ceilings.
The London Stadium has plenty of imagery about West Ham, and the pictures on the outside are eye-catching. West Ham fans have also shown they can create a good atmosphere there as during the matches with Tottenham Hotspur, certainly last season. As ever with a new building, it’s not just about the concrete, it’s about the residents’ reaction to it. Atletico fans will undoubtedly miss the Vicente Calderon but know Wanda is the future, for financial reasons as well as safety. There is some scepticism, but there is also an embracing of their new home. On the large balcony of the top tier, there is a stunning view towards Madrid centre, and couples posed for pictures during the sunset. Wanda has a romantic streak.
If West Ham fans can somehow acquire that generosity of mindset, the London Stadium has a chance as a football venue, but in the cold light of day, and with the team underperforming, all its structural flaws as a rousing house of football will be highlighted. The Spanish look to have got it right with Wanda, focusing on one sport, and building a home fit for Atletico fans. A very English muddle looks to have let down West Ham supporters.
