Movistar Arena Marks 20 Years with Major Expansion to Become Spain's Largest Venue
On its 20th anniversary since reopening, Madrid's Movistar Arena announces expansion to become Spain's largest arena, enhancing safety and event capacity.
- • Movistar Arena celebrates 20 years since its 2005 reopening after a 2001 fire.
- • Planned capacity increase from 17,453 to 20,008 to become Spain's largest arena.
- • Hosts over 500 events annually, generating €577 million and supporting 13,000 jobs.
- • New safety plan and improved evacuation procedures under review by the Community of Madrid.
Key details
The Movistar Arena in Madrid is celebrating 20 years since its reopening in 2005 after a devastating fire destroyed the original Palacio de los Deportes in 2001. Originally built in 1960 on the site of the old Goya bullring, the arena has been a central hub for sports and cultural events in Madrid. After the fire, architect Enrique Hermoso led the design of the modernized facility, which reopened with a capacity of 17,453 spectators and cutting-edge safety features, retaining the historic concrete facade.
In 2025, the venue was renamed Movistar Arena following a sponsorship deal with Telefónica. Currently hosting over 500 events annually, it draws over 2 million visitors and generates €577 million in economic impact, supporting around 13,000 jobs.
Now, the arena is set to expand its capacity from 17,453 to 20,008 seats, making it the largest indoor arena in Spain. This expansion will focus primarily on the main floor and is part of the new Plan de Autoprotección to enhance safety and evacuation procedures, currently under review by the Community of Madrid. Equipped with over 400 modern security cameras, the arena prioritizes guest safety while boosting its ability to attract international artists and host prestigious events, including prospective NBA games.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, regional president, highlighted the project's importance in strengthening Madrid's status as a global music and sports capital. The Movistar Arena is currently ranked third worldwide in the Pollstar World 200 Arenas list, underscoring its international significance.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
