abroadcast: Real Madrid vs. Atletico de Bilbao

When: January 22, 2012
Time: 9:30 pm
Where: Estadio de Santiago Bernebau
What: Real Madrid Fútbol
Cost: 40 euro
Experience: Priceless

Last night a few friends and I went to a Real Madrid vs. Atletico de Bilbao soccer game. The atmosphere on the street before the game was insane; people walking on the street, drinking, eating bocadillos. We joined in the pre-game atmosphere (yeah it was an actual pre-game situation.) It wasn't until we were walking up the 37239487 stairs to our seats that I got really excited. We were in vomitorio 4, so super nose bleeders. The actual atmosphere in the stadium wasn't as overwhelming as I thought it would be, but maybe thats because we were so high up. I could still see the players and their jersey numbers, so I was able to pay attention to the game and feel a part of the stadium. There was a group sitting behind one of the goals that had a drum and some flags and were chanting, dancing, cheering, yelling, and singing the entire game.I called them the rowdy raiders of Real Madrid. If I go to a game again, I'll be sure to learn the chants first because I really wanted to join in.

Long story short, Madrid won, scoring 4 points to Bilbao's 1, which was super exciting, especially after all the goals.

A few interesting things I noted at the game different than in the US:
1. You are allowed to bring food in, so at half time, everyone whipped out their bocadillos (sandwiches) in tin foil and chowed down.
2. People aren't as drunk/concession stands are not a huge deal. People were drinking before the game, and some people had beer at the stadium, but it was nowhere near the spectacle at some professional US sporting events, but again, maybe I was too high up to notice. Also, the concession stands are pretty minimal and just sell the basics, and people don't really buy much from them.
3. Cleanliness. The stadium was so clean. There were people cleaning and sweeping while the game was going on, but there wasn't even anything to clean!