This plan, granted as a 75-year concession to Barsento S.L.U., includes the creation of a covered venue with a capacity for 21,000 people, a campus for Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, and a GoFit sports center. Construction, scheduled to begin soon, is expected to continue until the end of 2030.
The project aims to provide a definitive use for the land of the former Aquatic Center, an unfinished infrastructure that symbolized Madrid's frustrated Olympic bids and the impact of the 2008 crisis. With this initiative, the City Council seeks to revitalize the area, turning it into a new hub for leisure, culture, higher education, and sports.
“"The city will boast the largest sports, cultural, university, and leisure complex of any city in the world."
The most prominent feature of the complex will be the covered auditorium, promoted by Live Nation, which will host musical and cultural events. This large-format venue will strengthen Madrid's position as a reference point for international concerts and events. Additionally, the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio campus, with capacity for over 2,300 students, will ensure constant activity in the area.
The third pillar of the development is a GoFit sports complex, which will include an outdoor swimming pool and serve up to 9,000 users. This sports offering will complement the municipal strategy to transform the Metropolitano area into a major hub for physical activity and urban life. The plot, with a buildable area of 90,000 square meters, will also integrate with the future Sports City promoted by Atlético de Madrid.
The financing and construction of the complex will be carried out by Barsento S.L.U., under a public-private partnership model that allows the City Council to resolve a long-standing urban issue without directly incurring execution costs. This approach confirms the government team's preference for unlocking major urban operations through private investment, while maintaining control over the general planning of the space.
