The Dolphins will turn one Madrid stadium into their temporary headquarters ahead of their first NFL game in Spain.
The Miami Dolphins have chosen Atlético Madrid’s Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium as their official headquarters for the NFL’s first-ever game in Spain.
The team will practice at the 68,000-seat venue throughout the week leading up to their matchup with the Washington Commanders and will also hold their pregame press conference there. For one week, the Metropolitano will become the Dolphins’ new home away from Miami.
NFL lands in Spain with a blockbuster matchup
The landmark game will take place on November 16 at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Beyond the excitement for Spain’s growing American football fan base, the event marks the arrival of one of the world’s biggest sports industries.
In 2024, the NFL generated a record revenue of more than $21 billion, and its international expansion shows no signs of slowing down.
A lucrative opportunity for Atlético Madrid.
Hosting the Dolphins is more than just a sporting honor for Atlético. According to Spanish outlet Voz Pópuli, the NFL is expected to pay the club several million dollars for the week-long use of the Metropolitano and its facilities.
The league is known for making its games turnkey operations for host venues. During the NFL’s first game in Munich, for example, it even covered the cost of replacing the Allianz Arena’s playing surface.
A week of NFL buzz in Madrid
The plan is nearly set: the Dolphins will practice from Tuesday through Saturday on Atlético’s training grounds and stage media events, including a full NFL-style media day.
The surrounding Canillejas–San Blas neighborhood will host fan activities and merchandise sales, with Atlético’s official club stores carrying Miami Dolphins gear.
Atlético star Antoine Griezmann, a well-known NFL fan, has long pushed for Madrid to host an NFL game. “I tried to make it happen with the club and the NFL.
For me, this stadium is the most beautiful one out there, and everything around it, including the parking, is perfect,” he said while attending last season’s Bears-Jaguars game in London.
Metropolitano’s growing role in global entertainment
The Metropolitano has quickly become one of Madrid’s premier entertainment hubs. Beyond soccer, it has hosted mega-concerts by artists like Ed Sheeran, AC/DC, Bad Bunny, and Iron Maiden, and is in talks to land the European leg of a possible Oasis reunion tour.
In sports, it will also host the 2027 UEFA Champions League final, further cementing its status as one of Europe’s top venues.
