Parallel to its application to stage the Olympic Games in 2012, Madrid decided to build a tennis stadium to accommodate 20,000 spectators as an advance gesture. Although the city’s Olympic bid was not successful, the tennis centre, with a total of 30 courts, a swimming pool and a clubhouse, has its justification. It forms the venue for the annual Madrid Open tournament and houses the headquarters of the Spanish tennis federation. The stadium can also be used for other large-scale events, such as concerts and congresses, boxing and icehockey matches.