Stadiums define the skylines of the cities they are in, and are a mecca not just for football, but for concerts and other large-scale events, and beyond just being a home for football, are monuments to sport and the triumph of human spirit.

The final bags build the removable roof. It sits loosely on 1×2 door rail pieces spaced around the stadium, and you could say it really tops off the build. The top of the box has a very nice blueprint-style diagram of the build, and features the team bus as the “1:1 scale element”– the first time I can remember multiple pieces being used, with the exception of minifigures. books – great if you enjoy building with someone else, and I really found this quite beneficial as it greatly removes much of the repetition of the build, if you’re able to share the load with someone else.Domestically, Real Madrid have won a record 34 La Liga titles and in European and worldwide football the club has won the most number of trophies, including a record 13 European Cups/Champions Leagues. Buy if you’re a Real Madrid fan, or if you appreciate large-scale LEGO builds, and stadium architecture. Do not buy for Atletico Madrid, or Barcelona fans. It would make an excellent splurge, or extravagant gift for the Real Madrid fan in your life.

Would be nice to a Brazilian stadium someday, but unlikely to happen. Regarding their appeal, as some people are questioning why a third stadium set, I see the same from the Architecture sets. If it were for me, I would even more future similar releases to that theme. It surprises me, though. I would have thought they'd continue to produce sets that appeal to a wider audience, as they usually do." The Bernabeu, named after the club's former president, has been home to Real Madrid since 1947 and is in the midst of a comprehensive transformation to bring it into the 21st century.

What's in the box

Unlike the more modern Old Trafford stadium, with different levels, modern roof, and square footprint, I really enjoyed the curves of the Bernabeu – the design (maybe its the tan), reminded me a lot of arenas like the Colosseum, where gladiators did battle.

Thanks for reading my review of 10299 Real Madrid Santiago Bernabeu Stadium ahead of its 1 March 2022 release. You build the Bernabeu in quadrants, ending with the roof, before connecting them all together with the use of Technic axels to keep them each half in place. The Santiago Bernabéu is a stadium that for its enormity in both architectural design and footballing history is held in awe, by fans and players the world over. It’s a longstanding home of legends and stars and a venue that has played host to some of the most spectacular teams the game has seen.A must-have for any Madrid supporter?s club room, view all of the iconic details under the bright stadium lights of one of the world?s most famous football pitches! Madrid unfortunately couldn’t mark the set’s announcement week with victory in the Champions League, losing 1-0 to PSG in the first leg of their Round of 16 match on Tuesday night. Their next game is at the Bernabéu on Saturday, February 19, where they’ll face 18th-placed Alavés in La Liga. If the words El Clasico, Galacticos, Zinedine Zidane, Alfredo Di Stefano, Florentino Perez don’t mean anything to you, or if you live in a country where football is called soccer, this set likely isn’t for you. The set has a really interesting proposition, as Santiago Bernabeu will look nothing like the stadium most fans are familiar with as it’s undergoing significant renovations to upgrade its look. LEGO's new 5,876 piece set, which is 6 inches tall and 18 inches wide when assembled, is a tribute to the stadium's classic design, including its imposing concrete facade and four famous corner towers. LEGO

If TLG is still able to turn a profit from mass-producing these expensive niche sets (that, presumably, only 6% of their potential customers would buy), then I guess they'll still continue to make these. Hot on the heels of fierce rival Barcelona’s LEGO stadium set, 10284 Camp Nou – FC Barcelona (and that won’t have been by coincidence), 10299 Real Madrid – Santiago Bernabéu Stadium offers novelty and intrigue for a series of LEGO models that could otherwise risk falling into a formulaic pattern. Authenticity and sense of scale are key factors in this recreation, so that builders can truly feel the atmosphere of this dazzling and vast stadium. This set allows builders to bring the much-loved home base of Real Madrid into their own home for years to come.”

Warranty & disclaimers

And last but not least, a lovely profile on the designer of the LEGO Santiago Bernabeu – Milan Madge. The white roof is removable, and the technique used is quite clever – it doesn’t attach to any studs, and is just nested there on the inside of the grey rim, making it quite easy to lift up and remove. This is ultimately one of the flaws of football club-based stadiums, in that it only attracts those who follow and support these clubs. Being a pretty pricey set as well puts up a very high barrier to be able to enjoy this set, so unless you’re a Real Madrid fan, or a fan of stadium architecture, it’s highly likely that you won’t feel that this set is worth the money, time or space to display it.