San Mamés
| La Catedral | |
San Mamés before a Europa League tie, 2009
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| Full name | Estadio San Mamés |
|---|---|
| Location | Bilbao, Spain |
| Owner | Athletic Bilbao |
| Operator | Athletic Bilbao |
| Capacity | 40,000 |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 20 January 1913 |
| Opened | 21 August 1913 |
| Renovated | 1952, 1982 |
| Closed | 5 June 2013 |
| Demolished | 6 June 2013 |
| Construction cost | 50.000 ptas |
| Architect | Manuel Maria Smith |
| Tenants | |
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San Mamés Stadium (Spanish: Estadio San Mamés [esˈtaðjo sam maˈmes]; also known as La Catedral [la kateˈðɾal], "The Cathedral"), was a football stadium in Bilbao, Biscay, Spain. The stadium was the home of Athletic Bilbao, known as Los Leones de San Mamés-Bilboko lehoiak (The Lions of San Mamés). They are known as Los Leones because their stadium was built near a church called San Mamés (Saint Mammes). Mammes was an early Christian, according to legend, who was thrown to the lions by the Romans.
The club's new stadium, of the same name, was inaugurated on 16 September 2013.
Opened in 1913, it was Spain's oldest built stadium before its demolition (the oldest playing field being El Molinón) a distinction that together with its religious heritage has given rise to the nickname La Catedral (The Cathedral).
The first match at the stadium in August 1913 was a friendly between Athletic and Racing Club de Irún in a replay of the 1913 FEF Copa del Rey Final, which was the opening game of a triangular tournament also involving Shepherd's Bush F.C. The first goal was scored by the famous striker Pichichi.
San Mamés could seat almost forty thousand people and was renowned for the unique and boisterous atmosphere its crowds of devoted and loyal fans would create on match-days.
The stadium was almost entirely rebuilt to host matches in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. In March 2006, a project was approved to replace the stadium with a new and larger version, thereby increasing the stadium capacity to 53,000. The New San Mamés Stadium is built on the former site of the Bilbao International Trade Fair, adjacent to the current stadium. Construction began in April 2010, and after it was three quarters completed, Athletic Club moved into their new home and the original San Mamés was demolished.
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