Billboard.com
Real Madrid CF says it has successfully defeated a criminal case connected to alleged noise pollution caused by concerts at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, marking a major development in the venue’s controversial expansion into live entertainment.
The club announced that Madrid’s Provincial Court had dismissed the criminal proceedings launched after complaints from residents living near the stadium in the city’s Chamartín district. The case centered around large-scale concerts staged at the Bernabéu in 2024, including performances by Taylor Swift and Karol G.
According to Real Madrid, the court concluded that neither the club nor its general director, José Ángel Sánchez, committed any criminal offense related to the concerts held at the stadium.
The legal battle began after neighborhood organization Asociación Perjudicados por el Bernabéu filed complaints over excessive sound levels following the stadium’s shift toward hosting large music events. The renovated Bernabéu had been positioned as a major future destination for international touring acts after undergoing extensive modernization.
In response to mounting criticism and legal scrutiny, Real Madrid paused concert activity at the venue in late 2024 while additional soundproofing and construction work continued. A lower court judge had previously ruled that there was enough evidence to examine whether the concerts constituted environmental violations connected to noise pollution.
However, Real Madrid appealed that decision, arguing that event promoters, rather than the stadium itself, were responsible for ensuring concerts complied with local sound regulations. According to the club, the Provincial Court ultimately agreed with that interpretation and determined the dispute did not warrant criminal prosecution.
The case highlighted growing tensions between large-scale stadium concerts and residential communities in major cities, where venues increasingly seek additional revenue streams through live entertainment. Similar disputes involving noise concerns and neighborhood opposition have emerged at concert venues across Europe and North America in recent years.
Despite the legal victory, it remains unclear when the Bernabéu will fully resume hosting concerts. Real Madrid has continued upgrading the stadium’s acoustic infrastructure, with soundproofing work expected to continue into 2026.
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