This is the new name of Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium

The home ground of the club from the Spanish capital is set to undergo a name change.

The USS Enterprise. The TARDIS. The Millennium Falcon. Now, Madrid’s very own spaceship has a new name.

The capital city’s 78,000 seater hypersonic vehicle will change the name that has graced it for over 50 years, if reports are to be believed. In the end, it’s a marketing decision that will see the name of the stadium changed from the full title of the famous president that brought with his 34-year reign (1943-1978) a legendary trophy haul that included 6 European Cups, 16 league titles and 6 cups.

Bernabéu signed Alfredo Di Stéfano, Gento, Santamaría, Pirri, Juanito, Kopa and Puskás, among many others, but most importantly he created a myth, a reputation and an idea of Real Madrid that struck fear into any team around the world.

Will Real Madrid change the name of their stadium?

His name will still be on the stadium, but with a space that allows for a money-spinning marketing idea. The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu will be renamed the Estadio Bernbéu, with a gap in middle for a sponsor, a brand’s name that will bring in sensational amounts of money to the club that claims it needs new avenues to compete with ‘petro-dollars’ being spent by others on the continent.

The stadium redevelopment opened up such avenues, with the capability of removing the pitch for a less-muddy flooring option quickly implemented, allowing for concerts (we remember you, Taylor) and slightly less entertaining corporate events that we don’t remember.

For a while, Microsoft was rumoured to be the frontrunner in the race to slap their name on the stadium, but for one reason or another, perhaps the fact that it remained simply that, a rumour, it was not to be. At the time of writing, there is no indication of any potential customers, but what is known is that deep pockets will be requirement number one.

For now, it’s as it always has been, and a name change won’t change who squeezes inside on those February Champions League nights that ignite the soul and feed the reputation built by Santiago all those years ago.