SPORTS
The iconic stadium hosted its last match on Monday when a team of 'Legends' lost a charity game 5-4 to a World XI featuring Ronaldinho.
Fifty-one thousand supporters bid a final farewell to Atletico Madrid's beloved Vicente Calderon stadium on Sunday, repeatedly chanting the club's anthem while watching a team of "Legends" lose a charity game 5-4 to a World XI featuring Ronaldinho. Current players Fernando Torres, Gabi and Koke represented Atletico alongside past greats such as Diego Forlan.
The game had a far larger attendance than the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Alaves the previous night and allowed fans to say a last goodbye to their club's home of 51 years before it is demolished.
The 10-times La Liga champions are leaving their ground named after a former club president in the south of the city at the start of next season for the 68,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium in the remote San Blas neighbourhood in the north-east of the capital.
The new stadium was planned back in 2004 in a bid to close the gap in revenue between Atletico and Spain's biggest clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona and to give Atletico a more modern arena than the ramshackle Calderon.
Fans had long complained about the stadium's poor transport links and a lack of parking space, although the decrepit state of the Calderon was part of its charm and a key aspect of the team's identity as the underdogs in the city they share with global behemoths Real Madrid.
A banner before the Champions League semi-final second leg against Real last month perfectly illustrated Atletico's image of themselves, proclaiming: "Proud not to be like you".
Atletico trailed 3-0 from the first leg yet supporters still created a deafening noise as their team beat Real 2-1 on the night, bowing out of Europe 4-2 on aggregate but with their heads held high.
There are fears that Atletico will struggle to recreate the Calderon's unique atmosphere in their new stadium, as West Ham United have found with their move from Upton Park to the less intimate London Stadium, where supporters are distanced from the pitch.
Coach Diego Simeone, however, has dismissed those fears. "The emotions will move with us, the same people that are here will be at the Metropolitano," he said. "Our passion and hope are not negotiable."
ESCALATING COST
Atletico supporters' group Senales de Humo have voiced their opposition to the escalating cost of the new stadium, which has increased to 300 million euros ($335.34 million). Some fans would rather see the money spent on new players or on keeping leading striker Antoine Griezmann.
There were also groans of disapproval when it was revealed that the new ground would be sponsored by Chinese real estate firm Wanda, although supporters seem enthusiastic about the move on the whole, with more than 55,000 season tickets being sold for the first season.
President Enrique Cerezo thinks the move will give the club a stronger identity. "We are very excited to move into our new stadium, not because we're tired of this one but because it will be more comfortable, more modern, more functional and more profitable," he told Reuters in April. The new stadium will make the identity we have even stronger. It's like moving into your own house just after you get married."
Veteran striker Torres, however, said he would miss the stadium where he made his debut aged 17 and where 40,000 fans came out to watch his presentation when he rejoined the club in 2015.
"My life and my memories all come from the Calderon, my greatest days as a supporter and as a player are in that stadium," said Torres. "Whenever I go round the area in the future and the stadium won't be there it's going to be difficult."
(Inputs from Reuters)
India vs England: Rohit Sharma goes past Chris Gayle in all-time ODI list led by Shahid Afridi
Ed Sheeran BREAKS silence after Bengaluru cops stop his street performance: 'It wasn't just...'
India gains, Pakistan struggles: Forex reserves rise to Rs 55300044 crore, Pak's decline continues
IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma returns to form before Champions Trophy, slams 32nd ODI century vs England
'Mummy daantegi...': Little boy screams as tiger pulls his shirt at zoo, WATCH viral video
Manipur CM N Biren resigns nearly two years after ethnic violence in state
Viral Video: Women travel in train toilet to Maha Kumbh, internet says "Is this a joke?
Vicky Jain's 'bizarre' comment leaves wife Ankita fuming with anger, netizens declare him 'red flag'
Bengaluru cops stop Ed Sheeran's street performance, video goes viral - Watch
Viral video: Lion spotted on moving jeep? Here’s the truth
YouTuber Gaurav Taneja reveals he was 'shocked' over his wife's decision to...
Teddy Day 2025: Date, history and significance of the fourth day of Valentine’s week
'Sugar is the biggest toxin...': Naga Chaitanya calls sugar more toxic than alcohol and tobacco
‘Over for Blinkit, Zepto’, this startup claims ‘delivering humans’ in 10 minutes, shocks netizens
Pratik Gandhi on his struggles, managing job with acting: 'Chaar gante sona luxury tha' | Exclusive
Why did Kumar Vishwas' wife cry after Manish Sisodia lost Delhi Elections: 'Not always power...'
'Fast and Furious' cars collision creates a Rohit Shetty scene on Indian road, viral video
'Go to the room, cry...': Salman Khan's wisdom on love, breakup is all you need this Valentine's Day
Parvesh Verma, BJP leader who defeated Arvind Kejriwal, makes BIG claim, says, 'we have to do...'
Sumona Chakravarti on joining Kapil Sharma show: 'Went from Ram Kapoor's sister to...'
Is Elon Musk still interested in buying TikTok? Tesla CEO provides BIG update, claims...
Groom's mother and mama join hands to burn the dance floor down, viral video sets internet on fire
What is historic 'Blue Gold', costlier than real gold?
Salman Khan opens up about his daddy issues with Salim Khan: 'How can he be right all the time...'
Powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake jolts Caribbean, tsunami advisory issued
Salman Khan supports Sooaj Barjatya, pens note on his OTT debut, calls his show Bada Naam Karenge...
Little girl's energetic dance to 'London Thumakda' leaves netizens in awe, WATCH viral video
Meet man who left IIT, later earned Rs 286 crore in just 20 weeks by...
Viral Video: Sadhus playing cricket at Mahakumbh mela wins hearts online, watch
Happy Chocolate Day 2025: Wishes, WhatsApp messages, quotes to share with your partner on February 9
Meet woman, who plays key role in Rs 33661 crore company, daughter of billionaire
Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna didn't talk to each other on the Chhaava sets because...
Nita Ambani, Nick Jonas share candid moments at Siddharth Chopra's wedding, WATCH viral video
UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2025 registration date extended by 7 days; apply at upsc.gov.in
'Fight for progress of Delhi will continue', says LoP Rahul Gandhi after Congress's Delhi debacle
Namma Metro Fare Update: Travel rides get costlier by 50 per cent from THIS date; check details
'AAP-Da Mukt Delhi': PM Modi hails BJP's resounding victory in assembly polls 2025
'He is fit to...': India batting coach shares BIG update on Virat Kohli ahead of IND vs ENG 2nd ODI
IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma on cusp of breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record in elite openers list
NASA confirms Sunita Williams' return date, denies US President Trump’s ‘stranded’ claim
Meet man whose airline went bankrupt, still has Rs 43894 crore net worth, he is...
Ranji Trophy: Suryakumar Yadav's horror show with bat continues, India star clean bowled for just...
Chocolate Day 2025: 5 easy homemade chocolate recipes to impress your partner
Mass layoffs at Infosys as company terminates 700 freshers over...
Priyanka Chopra wears 62-emerald bead Bvlgari necklace at her brother's wedding
Chocolate Day 2025: Date, significance, history and celebration ideas
Meet Swati Singh, wife of BJP's Parvesh Verma, who defeated Arvind Kejriwal by 4089 votes
Meet man, son of world’s richest woman, he is set to take over Rs 1642000 crore empire as...