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Atlético’s home becomes Cívitas Metropolitano

Atlético de Madrid has unveiled Cívitas as the new naming rights partner for its stadium, with the real estate developer also set to aid the Spanish LaLiga football club in its Sports City project with the City of Madrid.

Cívitas will hold naming rights to the Estadio Metropolitano for the next 10 seasons, with the company also appointed Atlético’s sustainability partner.

Cívitas succeeds Chinese conglomerate the Wanda Group as the Metropolitano’s naming rights partner. Wanda agreed a deal in December 2016 for the naming rights to the 68,450-capacity stadium, which opened in September 2017. Financial terms of the new deal were not disclosed, with Wanda said to have paid €10m (£8.52m/$10.23m) per year for its rights.

Alejandro Ayala, president of Cívitas, said: “Atlético de Madrid and its fans have always been characterised by values ​​such as the spirit of self-improvement, teamwork, fidelity, perseverance.

“We are going to work together with the club to add to the great project of the Cívitas Metropolitano the values ​​of sustainability, energy management and health in the environment that we champion.”

The agreement was unveiled yesterday (Tuesday) as Atlético and Madrid City Council formally presented their Sports City plan. Earlier this month, the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, announced that the City Council would give the green light to the project surrounding the Metropolitano.

The initiative put forward by Atlético proposes that five plots of land near the stadium be transferred to the club for a period of 75 years, with three of the plots to be part of the Sports City. Atlético also plans on building public sports facilities on two other plots near the stadium, the main facility being a new athletics stadium.

The proposal put forward by Atlético includes the construction of six football pitches that would serve as the base for a new training facility for the club’s first team, reserve team and youth teams.

The proposal also includes a 6,000-seat mini stadium for its reserve and women’s teams, 25 padel courts, a climbing wall, a surfing area and a skateboarding space. Commercial and hotel space also forms part of the wide-ranging project, which would be financed by the club at a reported cost of €200m.

Atlético president, Enrique Cerezo, yesterday outlined how the Sports City project aims to benefit citizens of its home San Blas-Canillejas district. Cerezo said: “The surroundings of this facility (Metropolitano) have grown and important actions have been undertaken, equipping it with green areas, recreation areas and new accesses. 

“The project that we present today endorses our firm commitment to continue implementing improvements that benefit all residents. Today we present an innovative initiative, with a city objective: that Madrid becomes a reference in the fields of sport and sustainability.”

Martínez-Almeida added: “It is an important and special day for the City of Madrid in which the collaboration between the public and private sectors is highlighted, further highlighting the collaboration between institutions and society.

“We are aware of the importance of sporting activity and the ability to value our great sports clubs in the city of Madrid, but also all of our amateur sport and all the infrastructure and equipment so that all Madrid residents, regardless of where they live, can practice and enjoy sports.”

Image: Cívitas