Perhaps you noticed the track’s unusual green color. This is the Estadio de Vallehermoso. It stands in Madrid’s Chamberí district. Construction began in 1957. The stadium opened in April 1961. It held 12000 spectators then. The opening coincided with the National School Games. One year later, it hosted the II Ibero-American Games.
For almost fifty years, Estadio de Vallehermoso remained open. It closed in July 2007. In 2008, they demolished everything but the entrance arch on Avenida de Filipinas. The plan was to rebuild. It would serve Madrid’s Olympic bids for 2012 or 2016. Sadly, the city’s application failed.
The site lay vacant for nine years. Finally, in July 2017, reconstruction funds were approved. Estadio de Vallehermoso reopened on August 25, 2019. The Meeting de Atletismo in Madrid returned to the stadium.
Today, Estadio de Vallehermoso holds 10000 spectators. The partially covered stands offer great views. Its two unique features set it apart. The first is its green track. The second is a covered, elevated warm-up track. This allows athletes to train in optimal conditions. The straightaway is 110 meters long. It has nine lanes.
Many stars have graced Estadio de Vallehermoso. The 1962 Ibero-American Games were a highlight. It was Madrid’s first major international athletic event. Spanish athletes like Luis Felipe Areta and Alberto Esteban shone.
In 1964, the Spanish Championships came to Estadio de Vallehermoso. It hosted the event twelve times between 1964 and 1986. In 1969, Rafael Blanquer jumped 7.87 meters in the long jump. This set a Spanish record.
The Meeting de Madrid started at Estadio de Vallehermoso in 1979. It was then called the Reunión Internacional Ciudad de Madrid. Carl Lewis ran the 200 meters in 19.92 seconds in 1987. Edwin Moses suffered a defeat in the 400-meter hurdles that same year. It ended his nine-year winning streak. Danny Harris beat him.
Javier Sotomayor jumped 2.35 meters in 1989. Yelena Isinbayeva set a world record in 2005. She cleared 4.95 meters in the pole vault at Estadio de Vallehermoso. In 2007, Blanka Vlasic jumped 2.05 meters. It was the last Meeting de Madrid held in the old stadium.
Estadio de Vallehermoso stands as a testament to Madrid’s athletic spirit. Its storied past and modern facilities make it a venue. It is a place where legends are made and records are broken. Now, the Madrid Bravos also play here.