San Mames football stadium is located in the town of Bilbao, Spain, where it plays its home games the Athletic Club. It takes its name from the neighboring San Mames, who was a martyr who was thrown to the lions, hence the players of the Athletic were known by the nickname of the lions. The stadium is owned by the Athletic Club and has capacity for 40,000 spectators and a field of 105 x 68 meters. It is the only stadium in Spain which has hosted all editions of the First Division.

The stadium’s original design is by architect Manuel María Smith and its initial capacity was 3,500 spectators. Later, San Mames was confronted with numerous reforms to improve access and visibility. In 1997 it removed the fences separating the public from the field and 10,000 seats were removed to suit standing rules FIFA. The capacity was thus reduced to the current 40,000 seats. The stadium is expected to become a centenary since the demolition would take place in 2013, according to forecasts available to the Club to build the new San Mames.

Bilbao hosted the World Cup, 1982. As a result, San Mames hosted three meetings belonging to the group stage (Group), England, France, Czechoslovakia and Kuwait .In recent years San Mames has hosted concerts of high caliber, it has played important artists and groups such as Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones or AC / DC. The stadium is well served by public transport exchanger San Mames station , where lines L1and L2 the Bilbao Metro , the lines C-1 and C-2 of Renfe Cercanías Bilbao, line A of EuskoTran and the bus station Termibús.