The Bernabéu once again became the world's entertainment epicentre after hosting an event that not only surprised for its magnitude, but also for the impact it generated on a social, economic and media level.
According to the data analysed, the Madrid Game, played on 16 November, is now part of the history of Spain and of the NFL, whose commissioner, Roger Goodell, described the Bernabéu as ‘the best stadium in the world.’
The home team, the Miami Dolphins, beat the Washington Commanders, turning the score around in overtime (13-16) and demonstrating that the Bernabéu effect goes far beyond football.
The event reached historic viewing figures, becoming the fifth most-watched game in the 20-year history of the NFL International Games. More than 6 million spectators from 223 countries enjoyed an unforgettable day, in addition to the 78,610 who were lucky enough to be part of the spectacle from the stands. This was the largest attendance at the stadium since its recent redevelopment.
This was also reflected in digital activity, where the impact on social networks was comparable to that of major football events (more than 100,000 conversations), reinforcing the Bernabéu's role as a generator of mass audiences and collective emotions regardless of the event taking place inside.
Majestic, awe-inspiring, colossal, spectacular, and impressive are some of the adjectives used by the world press to describe the Bernabéu and its incredible transformation in less than a week to host an official American football match.
The hypogeum, which allowed the match to be played on natural grass thanks to the excellent preservation and conservation that this system of storing the pitch allows, was particularly admired worldwide.
Beyond the media coverage, the game held at the Bernabéu also meant a significant economic boost for Madrid. The local authorities have estimated an economic impact of more than 70 million euros for the city, a figure that underlines the value of the stadium as an engine of urban development, a driver of tourism and a strategic tool for projecting the image of the capital to the world.
The Bernabéu has thus established itself as a global reference point. Its capacity to transform any event into an unforgettable event proves that the stadium is already one of the most important multi-purpose venues on the planet, capable of combining innovation, emotion and profitability in every event it hosts. Madrid and its architectural icon continue to write pages of history together.
