Anoeta Stadium (San Sebastian)

Anoeta, currently known as Reale Arena for sponsorship, is the football stadium in San Sebastian, Basque Autonomous Region, Spain, which was opened in 1993.

The stadium is located in the Anoeta sports complex, and is mainly used for football matches, where Real Sociedad in La Liga disputes their home games. The total capacity of the stadium, which was originally 32,000, was limited to approximately 26,800 due to reconstruction work; its capacity by the end of September 2019 was indicated as 39,500 seats (compared to 42,300 indicated two years earlier).

Basic information

Arena capacity: 39,500 spectators 

Address: 1, Anoeta Pasalekua, 20014 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain

GPS coordinates for the navigator:43°18′4.96″N 1°58′25.02″W

Year of construction: 1993

Construction Cost: 21 million Euro 

Field: 105 meters(115 yards) x 68 meters (74 yards) 

Seating plan for Anoeta Stadium

The stadium is built with a bowl of solid seating, which is quite popular in modern European stadiums. The North and South stands are behind these two goals, with the North Stand seeking to receive the most active supporters of Sociedad. For this reason, it has an additional level compared to its opposite number. The eastern and western stands pass along the side of the field and have two-level seats, although in reality they are higher than the end stands due to the way the ground is designed. The West Stand is better known as the Principal, as it is the main stand in the stadium.

Where to buy tickets?

As is often the case at higher levels, ticket prices for Real Sociedad matches are categorized according to the strength of the opposition. A-List teams such as Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid and Basque rivals Sociedad Atletico Bilbao will throw you more than playing against the ordinary confrontations such as Villarreal. You should expect to pay at least 30 euros, an increase of up to 75 euros for a typical match of La Liga.

How to get tickets for Real Sociedad?

A stadium is rarely sold for matches, usually around 10,000 seats for all but the biggest games. For this reason, on the day of the game it is not so difficult to go to one of taquilla or ticket windows and buy a ticket in person. If you prefer to book online, then the club site is perfect for this.

How to get there?

Train

You can get to San Sebastian from London by train in about ten hours, although on average it’s more than sixteen. Once you are there, you will want to take the Donostialdea metro to Anoeta Station, which is located right at the threshold of the stadium.

Bus

An impressive network of buses operates in San Sebastian, so you will have several options if you want to go to the stadium by public transport. Buses 43, B9, and 21 are examples of numbers you can hop onto to get a prize, and many more.

Car

Anoeta Stadium is located south of the center of San Sebastian, so anyone hoping to get there will want the A-15, AP-1, GI41 and GI 20 before monitoring the signs as they get closer.

By plane

San Sebastian Airport is just fifteen miles from the city center and serves most of Spain’s major cities. If you are looking for a larger airport, then Bilbao is a little less than a hundred miles away. The location of the city near the border with France means that a trip to Biarritz Airport will leave you about forty miles from the city center.

Taxi

A taxi from San Sebastian Bay to the stadium will cost you about 10-12 euros and take about fifteen minutes.

Parking near Anoeta Stadium

To the north of the stadium there is parking on the street with which you can try your luck, but to be honest, there are no heaps of places where you can leave the car. Wherever you are, be sure to watch out for parking restrictions.

Anoeta Stadium Hotels

Off Beat Guesthouse — £50 +

Calle 31 de Agosto 16, Planta 1, San Sebastian, 20003

This pleasant guest house is approximately one and a half miles from the stadium. There are only twelve rooms here, so you know that an individual approach awaits you if you decide to stay here. You will not have such restaurants or bars, but you will get free Wi-Fi and it is within walking distance of local attractions such as Concha Beach.

Hotel Record — £70 +

Calzada Vieja de Ategorrieta, 35, San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, 20013

If you want somewhere the same personalized service as at Off Beat Guesthouse, but with more of the amenities you can expect in a larger hotel, then Hotel Record may be for you. In addition to free Wi-Fi and free parking, there is also a bar and a rooftop terrace. It is not far from the beach, one and a half miles from the ground and has fourteen rooms.

Hotel Anoeta — £90 +

Paseo de Anoeta, 30, San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, 20014

Hotel Anoeta is not only the most expensive hotel on our list, but also the closest to Anoeta Stadium, so you will at least get some amenities for your money. You also get a hotel with a restaurant, a bar, self parking and a terrace. There is also a library and a meeting room if you want to relax a bit.

Pubs and Bars Near Anoeta Stadium

Bar Txirrita

Isabel II.a Etorb., 4, 20011 Donostia, Gipuzkoa

Txirrita Bar is the closest bar to the ground, so this may be the best place to have a drink before the match. This is not exactly a sports bar, although its proximity to Anoeta Stadium means that you will probably meet many other football fans when you enter. They make delicious snacks in the Spanish bar and many different drinks, and the red wine menu is very worthy of a long viewing.

Molly Malone

San Martin Kale a, 55, 20007 Donostia, Gipuzkoa

Molly Malone calls herself an Irish gastro pub, coffee bar and snack bar, so this should give you some idea of ​​what to expect when you go there. Do not think that this means that you are going to some boring place where you will eat cakes and drink afternoon tea. This is a good old-fashioned Irish pub near the beach, with pints of Guinness and delicious food, ready to serve you anytime.

Bar Garibai 21

Garibai Kalea, 21, 20004 Donostia, Gipuzkoa

Bar Garibai 21 is an interesting place for sports lovers. They have several screens that show live football and the like, but food is not the usual food with hamburgers and chips that you would expect to find in such a place. Instead, you look at gourmet food and a great selection of drinks that should seduce even the most discerning visitor. Great food, best drinks and lively sports. What not to love?

Hospitality

Like almost all the best teams in Europe, Real Sociedad knows how to care for its most prestigious fans. There are many different levels of hospitality that you can enjoy if that is what you like.

Private rental

Just as there are many different options for hospitality, these rooms are also available for types of business for meetings and events. If you are interested in organizing a conference or something similar, then it is best for you to contact the club.

History

This is the third home stadium Real Sociedad, which is preceded by Ondarreta (1909–1923) and Atocha (1923–1993). In the outer hall area is a bust of the late Alberto Ormaetxea, the club’s manager during their successful early 1980s.

Real Sociedad’s Basque rivals, Athletic Bilbao, were also allowed to use Anoeta for their first home game of the 2013–2014 season. La Liga, as their own new site (San Mames) was still under construction. The stadium also hosts occasional matches from the Basque Country national football team.

It has also been used for concerts, as well as for periodic matches of the Heineken Cup rugby union at Top 14 Club Biarritz Olympique (based in France, but very close to San Sebastian). Since the 2009–10 Top 14 season, both Biarritz and his playmate Pays Basque Aviron Bayonnais played home matches at Anoeta, the largest stadium closest to their cities.

Opening

Anoeta’s initial construction costs were 3 billion pesetas (equivalent to 21 million euros at the time). The stadium was officially opened on August 13, 1993 in a friendly match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid. The first goal was scored by Txuriurdin defender Loren, and the match ended with the score 2–2.