There are few homes in sports as iconic as the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Three years ago, Cisco embarked on a partnership with Real Madrid and its famed venue, teaming up to execute a new vision that would make the Bernabéu one of the best venues in the world to host world class events.
And today we can see that vision comes to life every time the Bernabéu opens its gates.
From the moment fans enter the stadium to the time they sit down in their seats, Cisco solutions have helped to create a family-friendly matchday environment while amplifying Real Madrid’s five key business pillars: Innovation, Connectivity, Content, Broadcasting, and Security. Fans experience lightning-fast connectivity (upward of 60 MB upload and download!) in a crowd of 80,000; as well as invisible, non-invasive ingress measures that ensure fans remain safe and secure during their time at the stadium. These connectivity and security solutions are complemented by world-class digital production capabilities, where fans are engaged by uncompressed, real time 4k video throughout the event.
Real Madrid has long been a leader in developing technology roadmaps with the goal of delivering exceptional fan experience and meeting their digital transformation vision. While our partnership raised the bar with the recent, full-scale renovation of the stadium, Cisco has been the backbone of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for nearly two decades, driving connectivity, security, and digital experiences that gave Real Madrid a world-class venue to match its world-class performance on the field.
But in true Madridista fashion, our two organizations are never satisfied – which is why today we are embarking on the next stage of our partnership with Real Madrid and remaining an Official Technology Partner of the club for years to come. The extension of this relationship will see the focus shift beyond the Bernabéu itself – as we look to collaborate on significant upgrades to Real Madrid Sports City, the official training complex of the club.
Today, Real Madrid Sports City serves not only as the practice facility for the team itself, but also as the command center for the entire technological operation of the Club – managing every IP endpoint within the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in real time. Over the next several years, Cisco will elevate this hub to new heights – bringing in the latest in connectivity with Wi-Fi 7, an AI-ready data center to facilitate new innovative workflows for the Club, and enhanced observability and cybersecurity deployments to ensure the digital resilience of the entire Real Madrid technological footprint.
This is the true significance of today’s announcement, and evidence of the trust that Real Madrid places in Cisco. As the Club looks to further cement its status as one of the most iconic and innovative sporting organizations in the world, we are proud of what we’ve accomplished together thus far and energized about what lies ahead. This is also an unparalleled proof point for the power of a unified technological approach, with Cisco being the only partner who can offer the end-to-end infrastructure and expertise to power the Club into the AI era and beyond.
Rooted In A Larger Future Vision
Later this year, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will host a different kind of football, when the first-ever National Football League (NFL) game to be played in Spain takes place in November at the venue. Cisco is also an Official Technology Partner of the NFL, helping to connect and protect the League during its marquee events and around the world, including the 2025 NFL International Games. This crossover is an amazing representation of the impact Cisco has across the sports and entertainment industry globally. For more than a decade, hundreds of industry-leading venues, teams, events, and organizations around the world have been relying on Cisco’s sports and entertainment solutions and expertise.
The NFL game held at the Bernabéu between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders will be a brand-new challenge for the venue, with a whole new set of expectations and demands from a technological perspective. But with the right Cisco infrastructure in place, there’s no doubt that the venue will continue to shine on a global stage.
A club like Real Madrid and a stadium like the Bernabéu represent the best in sports: passion, community, connection, and above all — excellence. As our partnership continues to evolve, we will remain rooted in these shared values, and we’re proud to be at the forefront with the club in powering that excellence.
