Real Madrid refuses agreement with city council for new Bernabeu stadium

Real Madrid is ignoring the acoustic standards it promised to comply with in its agreement with the city council on the stadium improvement plan, approved on May 31, 2017. Real Madrid ensured that “the creation of an enveloping covering for the entire stadium will reduce the acoustic emission to the outside of internal noise generated during events, limiting the acoustic impact on the environment and thereby improving the comfort of neighbors.” As it states, “distances from sound sources to potential noise receivers and walls planned for equipment will ensure that noise levels are below acceptable limits, meeting acoustic quality objectives to the extent determined by applicable codes.” regulations”.

However, the administration of José Luis Martínez Almeida carried out measurements in the stadium’s preludes to record the acoustic impact of additional sporting events staged at the new Bernabeu, which demonstrated that these guarantees were not being met. Although municipal authorities do not disclose data, concert organizers have already been fined up to 20,000 euros. Enrique Martinez, president of the Association of Neighbors Affected by the Bernabeu, assures that in the vicinity of the Madrid fiefdom, acoustic recordings prepared by specialized companies and having judicial evidentiary value, exceed 90 decibels (dBA).

The Ordinance on Protection against Acoustic and Thermal Pollution (OPCAT), approved in February 2011, states that the limit on decibel levels released into the environment during concerts or performances is set at 63 during the day and 53 at night, although The document states that in order to consider the standards violated, the emission level must be exceeded by more than five dBA. Official sources from the Department of Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility of the Madrid City Council admit to this newspaper that “Activities cannot be paralyzed even if they do not comply with noise regulations.“However, there is some concern at the top of the Madrid government that the judicial review of the case, if residents of the Chamartin area submit complaints, will, according to the judge’s order, lead to the cessation of concerts and performances in the sports ground.

On May 23, the Administrative Court No. 30 of Madrid had already ruled in favor of the Neighborhood Association affected by the Bernabéu and canceled the permit for the construction and operation of two new car parks with 1,864 spaces for the club, one on the Paseo. de la Castellana and another on Padre Damiana Street. Given this decision, the Madrid City Council, which has been tasked with bearing the costs of the procedure, is considering an appeal to the Superior Court of Madrid (TSJM).

The club, which did not respond to questions from elEconomista.es, has now decided to reinforce the stadium with sound-absorbing material to reduce acoustic radiation. However, the president of the Neighborhood Association assures that “this will not be enough,” and expects that when they are ready and have all the documentation, they will go to court, warning that they have already achieved a victory with parking.