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How Real Madrid's Stadium Became A Cash-Printing Machine

Real Madrid had to borrow over $1 billion for its stadium renovation, but it unlocked new revenue streams, slashed existing debt, and changed the way football clubs think about infrastructure forever.

Joe Pompliano
Jul 25, 2025
∙ Paid
(Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid via Dennis Agyeman/Getty Images)

Real Madrid’s decision to renovate its stadium will go down as one of the best sports business moves of the last decade. Rather than demolishing the 75-year-old Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and rebuilding it, Real Madrid borrowed over $1 billion when interest rates were low and renovated the exi…

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