Atlético Madrid to Host Global Sports & Entertainment Summit at Riyadh Air Metropolitano

Madrid, Spain – Atlético Madrid is expanding its influence far beyond the pitch, announcing it will stage an unprecedented gathering of international power brokers from sports, entertainment, and business on 23 April at the club’s Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The invitation-only summit, branded “THE FORUM: Leaders Inspiring the World,” will coincide with the club’s push toward a potential UEFA Champions League semi-final berth. Atlético, fresh off a quarter-final first-leg meeting with FC Barcelona on 8 April and the return leg on 14 April, will welcome more than 200 senior executives to discuss the accelerating convergence of sport, leisure, and global commerce.

Miguel Ángel Gil, CEO of Atlético Madrid, will serve as host, joined by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, La Liga President Javier Tebas, Paris Saint-Germain and European Club Association chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Inter Miami CF owner Jorge Mas, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, and Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida. Apollo Sports Capital is co-producing the event with the club.

“Since its inception in the mid-19th century, football has evolved season after season, but never at its current pace,” the club stated. “The world’s leading sport has ceased to be merely a game, transforming into a global phenomenon with unparalleled socio-economic impact. Consequently, competition is no longer confined to the pitch; this paradigm shift is the catalyst for THE FORUM.”

Panels will cover Football Business Industry, Spanish Brands Go Global, Global Brands, Global Sports Properties, Entertainment, and Leading Brands, reflecting Atlético’s ambition to position itself at the intersection of sport and international business.

“We are proud that the home of all Atléticos will become a meeting point for international leaders in sports, leisure, and entertainment—three sectors whose boundaries are blurring as they strive to enhance the experience for millions of fans worldwide,” Gil said.

The single-day conference underscores Atlético’s strategy to grow its brand in non-match markets while the team vies for European glory.