Madrid to Transform Former Aquatic Center into a Major Cultural and Sports Complex

The project, with an investment exceeding 360 million euros, will include a large auditorium, a university campus, and a sports center.

Artistic rendering of the future urban complex in Madrid, featuring an auditorium, university campus, and sports center.
IA

Artistic rendering of the future urban complex in Madrid, featuring an auditorium, university campus, and sports center.

The Madrid City Council has unveiled an ambitious plan to revitalize the grounds of the former Aquatic Center, creating a mega-complex that will integrate cultural, sports, university, and leisure uses.

This development, spanning approximately 65,000 square meters, will be managed through a 75-year concession to the company Barsento S.L.U., responsible for financing and executing the works. The estimated investment for this project exceeds 360 million euros.
The central element of the complex will be a large indoor auditorium, promoted by Live Nation, with a capacity for 21,000 spectators. This space will be dedicated to major musical and cultural shows, positioning itself as the heart of the new development.

"The venue will reinforce Madrid as a global center for live music and the city will have the largest sports, cultural, university, and leisure complex of any city in the world."

José Luis Martínez-Almeida · Mayor of Madrid
Additionally, the project includes the creation of a campus for Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, designed to accommodate over 2,300 students. The academic offerings will focus on areas such as sports management, health, and technology applied to the music and entertainment industries, complemented by vocational training.
The third main area will be a sports center, operated by the GoFit chain, which will feature indoor and outdoor pools and can serve up to 9,000 users. The goal is for these facilities to also be open to residents of the San Blas-Canillejas district.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the coming months and is expected to be completed by the end of 2030. The City Council will receive a fee of over 141 million euros during the concession period. This complex will integrate with the future City of Sport, promoted by Atlético de Madrid, consolidating the area as a significant hub of activity in the capital.