A visit to San Mames Stadium on match day to see Athletic Bilbao play against Barcelona. The San Mames matchday VIP experience

Watch an Athletic Bilbao game at San Mamés Stadium

Athletic Bilbao play at San Mamés stadium in the center of Bilbao.  Reasons to watch a match whilst in Bilbao are;

  • Brand new 5 star stadium – one of the best in the world
  • Athletic Bilbao are a top Spanish team
  • They play in La Liga with Barcelona and Real Madrid
  • They play in major European competitions

You can buy your VIP ticket online.

Location

Athletic Bilbao, San Mames stadium, VIP match day experience

The new state of the art San Mamés Stadium is located in the center of Bilbao.  It has been a major part of the city for over 100 years.  When the stadium was rebuilt, it kept it’s place in the center.  This meant that all the historic businesses surrounding the stadium remained after the rebuilding.  If you’re staying in the center of Bilbao you can easily walk to the stadium.  If you’re staying a little outside the city the stadium is served by San Mamés metro station.

90 minutes before kick off

Athletic Bilbao, San Mames Stadium

You may enter the stadium 90 minutes before kick off.  I recommend doing this as you’ll have more time to enjoy the bars and pintxos.  You’re welcome to walk around the VIP seats and view the stadium from different vantage points.  Three sides of the middle tier are VIP seats.  The remaining side of the middle tier is reserved for the president.  These are the best seats in the house, you’re sharing with the president of the club.

Sample local products

Athletic Bilbao, match day experience, local Spanish wines

Around the VIP area you’ll find kiosks from local Basque companies.  The good news is the Basque region has some of the worlds best wine.  Wine lovers can enjoy a little wine tasting before and after the match.  If you are visiting the stadium as a couple, the lady will probably enjoy the wine tasting more than the football!  As well as wine you’ll find numerous kiosks with local offerings.

Enjoy the numerous bars and snacks

Athletic Bilbao VIP match day experience, bar

Before and after kick off there will be waiters offering drinks and pintxos.  Pintxos are the basque regions version of tapas.  I have tried tapas all over Spain and I must confess, pintxos are much better than tapas.  Service at the bar is very quick and a waiter will probably bring you another drink before you know you even need to go to the bar.  All the waiters speak English and are interested in where you are coming from to watch the match.

Kick off

Athletic Bilbao, VIP matchday experience, the view and seats

The San Mamés stadium has an electric atmosphere.  The fans really believe in their team.  They’ve beaten Barcelona before so the crowd are straight to work as the 12th man of Athletic Bilbao.

No alcohol is served from kick off until the final whistle.  During half time a lot of spectators were ordering beer without alcohol.  Of course you’ll be hungry at half time and there will be plenty of pintxos on offer.

Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao - VIP match day experience, San Mames Stadium

Athletic Bilbao is a unique team.  What makes it unique is that they only field players who were born in the Basque region of Spain.  Since Athletic Bilbao was formed in 1898 they have always been in Spain’s La Liga .  That stat is impressive on its own.  Some of Spains most famous teams have been relegated from La Liga at least once.  Teams such as Athletico Madrid, Villareal, Sevilla and Valencia have all been relegated.  They’ve been relegated whilst having the freedom to bring in players from anywhere in the world.  Imagine if Liverpool could only field players from Merseyside.  Imagine if the Manchester teams could only sign players from Greater Manchester.  It’s hard to believe they would be as successful as Athletic Bilbao have been.

The visiting team

Athletic Bilbao, VIP match day experience, Messi

The best players in the world play in Spain.  If you take a VIP seat when Barcelona or Real Madrid are playing then you’re in for a treat.  Famous players I was able to see were, Messi, Suarez and Pique.  If Barcelona were to only field players from Catalonia would they be as successful as Athletic Bilbao?  I think not.

Post match analysis

Athletic Bilbao, VIP experience, Post match drinks, San Mames Stadium

When the game is finished you are welcome to enjoy drinks and pintxos after the match. There are screens around the stadium so you can enjoy your last drinks whilst watching the post match analysis.  The game I watched finished Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Barcelona.  I thought this was not a bad result, often teams lose to Barcelona by a greater margin.

Visiting when it’s not match day?

Athletic Bilbao, San Mames stadium - bar

If you’re visiting Bilbao and it’s not match day it’s still possible to visit the stadium.  The most convenient way to see the stadium would be to visit the bar.  From the bar you can enjoy the view of the stadium whilst enjoying a drink.  Something unique about this bar is that the old pitch is marked on the floor.  When the stadium was rebuilt it was moved slightly so they could continuing playing during the move.  The old corner of the pitch used to be where the bar is now.

If you want a more in depth visit to the stadium you can take stadium tour.  On a stadium tour you can visit the team dressing rooms, press rooms and pitch side.  It’s arguably the best stadium in the world so if you do a stadium tour anywhere, it should be here.

Enjoy your VIP matchday experience at the San Mamés Stadium

Enjoy the match and the Bilbao experience.  It’s not only the team that is from Bilbao but the local wines, pintxos and other local products.  You could not visit a football stadium anywhere in the world that would give you a better experience of the city it’s representing.

You may buy your VIP ticket online.