Real Madrid Renews Global Technology Partnership with Cisco

Real Madrid has extended its global partnership with Cisco, reinforcing the company’s role as one of the club’s official technology partners. The renewed agreement includes the integration of Cisco’s advanced technology at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and expanded upgrades to Real Madrid City.

The announcement was made at the Bernabéu Stadium, attended by Alex Wicks, CEO of Real Madrid Estadio; Andreu Vilamitjana, General Manager of Cisco Spain and Portugal; and Agostino Santoni, Senior Vice President EMEA South.

The partnership will focus on transformative technology enhancements, including:

• The development of a scalable, high-performance, AI-ready data center at Real Madrid City. This will improve the club’s energy efficiency and enable the integration of AI-based workloads.

• The installation of Cisco Wi-Fi 7 throughout Real Madrid City, delivering faster speeds, reduced latency, and seamless connectivity for fans and staff.

• The implementation of a robust 100 Gbps network infrastructure connecting the Bernabéu Stadium to Real Madrid City. Built on Cisco's Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI), this network will enable secure, simplified management, faster deployment of new services, and improved digital resilience across the club’s systems.

Driving Innovation in Sports Technology

Cisco’s technology has been the digital backbone of the Bernabéu for nearly two decades. A comprehensive renovation completed in 2024 positioned the stadium as a global benchmark for innovation and fan engagement. The upgrade featured a single, converged Software Defined Access (SDA) network — the first of its kind in a European stadium — ensuring fast and secure connectivity for all stadium operations. Additionally, Cisco’s cloud-based IP Fabric for Media supports real-time content production and distribution across more than 2,500 screens within the venue and to global audiences.

Vilamitjana: “The Bernabéu will once again be a pioneer in delivering immersive, sustainable and cost-effective interactions”

Andreu Vilamitjana, CEO of Cisco Spain and Portugal, said about the agreement: “Networks are at the heart of digitalisation, which is transforming all sectors, including sport and entertainment. Three years ago, the new Bernabéu stadium set a global benchmark in converged connectivity thanks to Cisco technology. Now, it will once again be a pioneer in delivering immersive, sustainable and cost-effective interactions.”

Agostino Santoni, Senior Vice President of EMEA South, said: “Technology has the power to transform the fan experience, and Real Madrid is marking a new milestone in innovation in sports, entertainment and culture. By leveraging Cisco's expertise, it is not only reinventing sport for fans, but also enriching the experience of hundreds of thousands of visitors to the stadium.”