The Madrid City Council has revised its development plans for a large site next to the Metropolitano stadium after the court banned the construction of a hotel on this land. The new project, presented by Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, no longer includes the hotel, which was previously a key part of Atlético de Madrid’s initiative.
The project concerns an abandoned building, formerly a water sports center, which was never completed for a canceled Olympic bid. This 66,000-square-meter plot was transferred to Atlético de Madrid for 75 years to become part of the so-called sports city. The initial plan allowed for the possibility of a hotel, but in December 2025, the Madrid High Court ruled that this violated the public purpose of the land and annulled the special urban development plan.
Project changes
After the court decision, the city council filed an appeal with the Supreme Court but at the same time prepared a new development option. The new plan calls for a concert hall for 20,000 spectators, a university campus for more than 2,300 students (to be built by the private university Alfonso X), and a large GoFit sports center with pools. According to city officials, the updated project fully complies with current urban planning regulations and does not require a separate special plan.
Financing and timelines
Investment in the new complex will exceed 360 million euros. The project will be financed and implemented by Barsento SLU — a joint venture established in 2024 by Atlético de Madrid, Live Nation, and Oak View Group. The concession term is 75 years, and total payments to the city will exceed 141 million euros. Construction is expected to begin soon and be completed by the end of 2030.
Procedure and details
The initiative to develop the site came from Atlético de Madrid, which, through Barsento, submitted the project in January 2025. The city council recognized it as serving the interests of the city and launched the administrative procedure. After publication in the official bulletin and completion of the period for alternative proposals, the tender was declared closed — no other applications were submitted. As a result, the concession was officially granted to Barsento SLU.
Thus, instead of a hotel on the site near Metropolitano, a large cultural, educational, and sports cluster will appear, becoming part of the large-scale Ciudad del Deporte project being carried out by Atlético de Madrid.
