Sport Events Guide for Expats
The three most followed sports in Spain are tennis, basketball and football (soccer), with the latter bordering on national obsession. The majority of televised football matches can be found on terrestrial television channels. The more important matches tend to be aired on cable television, in which case non-subscribers watch the game at a local bar with cable access.
Football (Soccer)
In Madrid there are two football teams that compete in the first division of the Spanish football league (La Liga):
The Real Madrid, or Los Merengues as they are commonly known, are one of the most famous football clubs in the world. The team has won the Spanish League Championships and the Champions League on many occasions. Their stadium is called the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and tours are available to see both the stadium and the team museum. Tickets for a match can range between 59 euros and 390 euros for El Clásico (Barcelona Vs. Madrid).
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Avenida Concha Espina 1
T: 91 398 4300
Metro: Santiago Bernabeu (Line 10)
For more information about Real Madrid, visit http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Home.htm.
The Atletico de Madrid are accustomed to being overshadowed by their richer, more famous neighbors. However, Los Rojiblancos, as they are known, have overcome their inferiority complex and now regularly finish the year in the top 4 of the league and therefore qualify for the lucrative Champions League. Their stadium is the Estadio Vincete Calderón, and standard tickets for a match can range from 40 to 90 euros for a Champions League match.
Estadio Vincete Calderon
Paseo Virgen del Puerto 67,
T: 91 366 47 07
Metro: Pirámides (Line 5)
For more information on the Atletico de Madrid, visit http://www.clubatleticodemadrid.com/.
Tennis
Tennis is a huge sport in Spain that has had a resurgence with the singular success of the current crop of Spanish tennis stars, such as Nadal and Verdasco, and also the Spanish team’s Davis Cup success. Tickets for the Madrid Masters, which takes place in the newly built Caja Magica (Magic Box) stadium between the 8th and 17th of May, are never available for long.
Caja Magica
Paseo de Perales, S/N
Parque Lineal del Manzanares
T: 917 220 40
Metro: San Fermín – Orcasur (Line 3)
Basketball
Basketball is another sport in which Spain has witnessed an upsurge in popularity due to recent victories. National and international games are generally broadcast on terrestrial television. The Spanish league is the ACB, which has 17 teams. The NBA is also keenly watched, especially when a Spanish player, such as Pau Gasol, is playing, and basketball is written about regularly in sports newspapers, such as Marca and AS.
The Madrid basketball teams are the Real Madrid, owned by Real Madrid Football Club, and Los Estudiantes. There are two stadiums in Madrid dedicated to basketball, the Club de los Estudiantes, which is where Los Estudiantes play, and the Palacio Vistalegre, where the Real Madrid play.
There is also the Telefonica Arena that is a multi-purpose venue that hosts major championship, such as the Euroliga. Tickets are readably available and can be purchased at the teams’ stadiums, online and at chain store Fnac and supermarket chain Carrefour.
Club de Los Estudiantes
C/ Serrano 127
T; 902 400 002
Metro: Republica Argentina (Line 6)
http://www.clubestudiantes.com/
Palacio Vistalegre
C/ Utebo 1
T: 914 220 781
http://www.palaciovistalegre.es/
Metro: Vista Alegre (Line 5)
Telefonica Arena
Av. de Portugal
T: 917 220 400
http://www.telefonicaarenamadrid.com/
Metro: Alto de Extremadura (Line 6)
Ticket Outlets
Carrefour
C/ María De Molina 56
T: 915 902 812
http://www.carrefour.es/hipermercados/promociones/la_canasta_carrefour/entradas.html
Metro: Avenida de America (Lines 4,6,7 & 9)
Fnac
C/ Preciados 28
T: 915 956 200
Online Box Offices:
http://www.spainticketbureau.com/es
Others sports, such as rugby and cricket, are not widely acknowledged, although in the case of rugby, the major events, such as the 5 Nations and the Rugby World Cup are followed on television and print media.
