Real Madrid has extended its multi-year partnership with Cisco, doubling down on technology as a competitive and commercial differentiator. With the Santiago Bernabéu now considered a global benchmark for connected stadium infrastructure, this renewed alliance positions the club at the forefront of sport-tech convergence.
The extended deal will see Cisco continue as official technology partner, with new infrastructure upgrades planned for both the Bernabéu and Real Madrid City — the club’s vast training and operations complex. The focus: smarter data, faster networks, and deeper digital integration across every layer of the club’s operations.
What’s Coming Next: A Smarter, Faster Madrid
Real Madrid and Cisco will collaborate on a series of tech rollouts designed to future-proof the club’s digital infrastructure. Highlights include:
- AI-Ready Data Centre: A scalable, high-performance data hub will be developed within Real Madrid City to support AI-powered decision-making, operational analytics, and energy-efficient processes.
- Wi-Fi 7 Integration: Real Madrid City will be equipped with next-generation wireless connectivity, delivering ultra-fast speeds and seamless experiences for both fans and staff.
- 100 Gbps Network Backbone: The Bernabéu and Real Madrid City will be linked by a high-capacity network powered by Cisco ACI, enabling secure, rapid service deployment and digital resilience at scale.
A Stadium Built for the Future
Cisco has played a pivotal role in transforming the Bernabéu into one of the world’s most advanced stadiums. Following a complete overhaul in 2024, the venue now runs on a unified Software Defined Access (SDA) network — the first of its kind in any European stadium — ensuring rapid, secure operations across every asset in the venue.
Meanwhile, Cisco’s cloud-based IP Fabric for Media enables live broadcast-quality video production, feeding content to over 2,500 in-stadium displays and global audiences in real time. It’s a setup built not just for football, but for the future of large-scale digital experiences.
The Bigger Picture: Immersive, Sustainable, Scalable
“This partnership is about more than connectivity,” said Andreu Vilamitjana, General Manager of Cisco Spain and Portugal. “It’s about enabling Real Madrid to deliver immersive, sustainable and cost-effective interactions that meet the expectations of the next generation of fans.”
Agostino Santoni, Cisco’s SVP for EMEA South, added, “Real Madrid is not just redefining sport — it’s creating a new experience model for entertainment, culture and events. With Cisco, that transformation becomes scalable and real.”
In 2025, stadiums are no longer just venues — they are platforms. Real Madrid is showcasing how elite clubs can turn infrastructure into IP: monetising attention, elevating experiences, and enabling deeper fan data ecosystems.
Expect more clubs, especially across the top five leagues, to look toward technology partnerships not just as operational upgrades, but as core commercial strategies. This is sport’s smart future — and Real Madrid is ahead of the curve.
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IMAGE: Realmadrid.com
