San Mamés Stadium
Encyclopedia
Estadio San Mamés, AKA La Catedral (The Cathedral), is a football
stadium in Bilbao
, Basque Country
, Spain
. The stadium is the home of Athletic Bilbao
, known as "Los leones de San Mamés-Bilboko lehoiak" (The lions of San Mamés). They are known as Los leones because their stadium was built near a church called San Mamés (Saint Mammes). Mammes was an early Christian
thrown to the lions by the Romans
. The lions refused to eat Mammes and he was later made a saint
.
The club's new stadium, San Mamés Barria, is currently under construction at a cost of 160 million euros, and will open in 2013.
), a distinction that together with its religious heritage has granted it the nickname, la Catedral (the Cathedral). San Mamés can seat almost forty thousand people and is renowned for the unique and boisterous atmosphere its crowds of devoted and loyal fans create on match-days.
The current stadium was almost entirely rebuilt to host matches in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
.
In March 2006, a project was approved to replace the stadium with a new and larger version, thereby increasing the stadium capacity to 53,000. The New San Mamés Stadium
will be built on the former site of the Bilbao International Trade Fair, adjacent to the current stadium. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2010, and when it is three quarters completed, Athletic Club will move into their new home and the original San Mamés will be demolished.
AC/DC
's final concert on their Black Ice World Tour
was held in the stadium.
Image:Mosaikoa San Mamesen.JPG|Main grandstand.
Image:San Mamés entrenamiento.PNG|East stand.
Image:Tribuna Norte Sanmames.PNG|North stand.
Image:Athleticzaleak San Mamesen inguruan.JPG|Outside the stadium.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadium in Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The stadium is the home of Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, known as "Los leones de San Mamés-Bilboko lehoiak" (The lions of San Mamés). They are known as Los leones because their stadium was built near a church called San Mamés (Saint Mammes). Mammes was an early Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
thrown to the lions by the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. The lions refused to eat Mammes and he was later made a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
.
The club's new stadium, San Mamés Barria, is currently under construction at a cost of 160 million euros, and will open in 2013.
History
Opened in 1913, it is Spain's oldest built stadium (the oldest playing field being El MolinónEl Molinón
Estadio El Molinón is an association football stadium in Gijón, Asturias-Spain. The stadium is the home ground of Sporting de Gijón.The stadium's address is Parque de Isabel la Católica, 33390 Gijón.-History:...
), a distinction that together with its religious heritage has granted it the nickname, la Catedral (the Cathedral). San Mamés can seat almost forty thousand people and is renowned for the unique and boisterous atmosphere its crowds of devoted and loyal fans create on match-days.
The current stadium was almost entirely rebuilt to host matches in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
.
In March 2006, a project was approved to replace the stadium with a new and larger version, thereby increasing the stadium capacity to 53,000. The New San Mamés Stadium
New San Mamés Stadium
San Mames Barria is the name of the Athletic Bilbao's new football stadium, which is under construction. The stadium will replace the old San Mamés as the home of Athletic Bilbao....
will be built on the former site of the Bilbao International Trade Fair, adjacent to the current stadium. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2010, and when it is three quarters completed, Athletic Club will move into their new home and the original San Mamés will be demolished.
AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's final concert on their Black Ice World Tour
Black Ice World Tour
Black Ice World Tour was a 2008/2009/2010 concert tour by Australian rock band AC/DC in support of the group's 15th studio album, Black Ice, which was released in October 2008. The tour was the band's first since the Stiff Upper Lip World Tour in 2000/2001.The jaunt began in Wilkes-Barre,...
was held in the stadium.
Gallery
Image:Mosaikoa San Mamesen.JPG|Main grandstand.
Image:San Mamés entrenamiento.PNG|East stand.
Image:Tribuna Norte Sanmames.PNG|North stand.
Image:Athleticzaleak San Mamesen inguruan.JPG|Outside the stadium.