In a major development, the Madrid City Council appears to have renamed the Real Madrid Sports City after the club’s influential president, Florentino Perez.
As reported by AS, the City Council renamed the Sports City to “Ciutat Esportiva Real Madrid – Florentino Perez” on its official website, although Real Madrid are yet to announce the change.
What prompted the change?
The name change was approved during the 2023 Assembly of Delegates, following a request made by over a thousand representative members under Article 28 of the club’s Statutes.
Florentino Perez, who has been integral to Real Madrid’s success and the transformation of the sports complex, expressed his gratitude but requested a slow, discreet implementation.
“I only ask that the name be put up when I say so because I am not yet psychologically prepared to see my name on the door of the sports city,” he said.
The renaming decision comes amid ongoing admiration for Perez’s role in developing the 1.2-million-square-meter facility, which has become home to both football and basketball teams since its inauguration in 2005.
The sports city boasts eleven grass pitches, the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, extensive residences, and a basketball pavilion.
Despite Florentino Perez’s resistance to renaming the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, this initiative underscores the recognition of his legacy.
During the 2022 Assembly, there was even a proposal to rename the stadium in his honour, which Perez promptly rejected, stating, “We are never going to change the name of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.”
On November 24, the General and Extraordinary Assemblies of Real Madrid’s Delegated Members will gather once again, where this historic name change and other club matters will be discussed.
