A few hours before the game, the San Mames area will fill up to create a great and unique atmosphere. The red & white atmosphere on big occasions.
The spirit of Athletic
Big games show the unique character of the Athletic Club. From the earliest hours of the day, the streets and balconies of not just Bilbao but all of Bizkaia will be decorated with red & white. Children go to school in red & white T-shirts, and also the parents wear them to work. Bilbao, Bizkaia, are tinged with the colours of Athletic Club.
What happens around San Mames a few hours before the game? If anyone wonders what the Athletic Club really is for their fans, all it takes is to walk the streets of Licenciado Pozas and García Rivero on such big days. The same goes for the old part of Bilbao, the Casco Viejo.
Thousands of people try to calm their nerves in the hours before the game, with family or friends, talking about the game while doing “poteo” (going from bar to bar drinking wine) and snacking on tasty “pintxos”. This is the best start for a football day.
Not only does the San Mames area allow you to gain strength and live those build up hours before the game. It can be done inside the stadium too.
Have a drink and eat something in San Mames
Even in San Mames you can eat and drink something with your family and friends. For example, at the Geuria sports bar, thanks to the giant screens, lighting effects and surround sound, you can watch the game live while enjoying a menu with sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and salads. Another option is to go to La Campa de los Ingleses (which offers a delicious brunch on weekends). From there you can see the stands, and how, as the hours pass by, they fill with thousands of red & white fans.
Also, if you prefer, you can go to the restaurant San Mames Jatetxea or enjoy the San Mames VIP Area experience, feel and live the atmosphere for four hours before a game, have a perfect view of the playing field and taste the best Basque cuisine made by chefs from Bizkaia with Michelin stars. Everything, much more than you could ever imagine.
