A2 · ElementaryAdapted from ElDiario.es

Madrid's VIP Trend: Is Everyone Invited?

Madrid y la moda VIP: ¿todos invitados?

Sep 15, 20261 min readGraded Spanish · word-by-word audio

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Madrid celebra muchos eventos grandes. Pero cada vez hay más zonas VIP. En la Fórmula 1, por ejemplo, casi 1 de cada 6,5 personas era VIP. Esto significa que el 15,4% del público tenía entradas especiales. A muchos les parece una exageración. Lo mismo pasa en el tenis.

También ocurrió en la celebración del Mundial. Los futbolistas subieron a un escenario en la Plaza de Cibeles. Delante había una zona enorme para familiares y políticos. Los aficionados, que esperaron horas con 35 grados, quedaron muy lejos. La imagen aérea era triste.

La 'VIPerización' se extiende a conciertos, festivales y restaurantes. Todo tiene su pulsera especial, su acceso preferente o su palco. Madrid corre el riesgo de convertir sus grandes eventos en escaparates de privilegio, no en experiencias colectivas. Y eso es una contradicción, sobre todo en el deporte.

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Watch out, English speaker

Spanish 'cada vez más' literally means 'each time more,' but English speakers often default to 'more and more' or 'increasingly.' Remember that 'cada vez más' can modify both adjectives and nouns, so 'cada vez hay más zonas VIP' translates as 'there are more and more VIP zones,' not 'each time there are VIP zones.' Spanish 'no... sino...' means 'not... but rather...' and contrasts two elements. English speakers often mistakenly use 'pero' (but) instead of 'sino' after a negative clause. For example, 'No es el deporte, sino ver y ser visto' means 'It's not the sport, but rather seeing and being seen'—'sino' introduces the correct alternative, not a simple contrast.

Key vocabulary

eventom.
event, happening
“Madrid celebra muchos eventos grandes.”— Madrid hosts many big events.
Pattern evento deportivo sports event
Compare acontecimiento event
Plural eventos
💡 From Latin eventus, meaning "something that happens"
zonaf.
zone, area
“Pero cada vez hay más zonas VIP.”— But there are more and more VIP zones.
Pattern zona VIP VIP area
Compare área area
Plural zonas
💡 From Latin zona, originally meaning "belt"
exageraciónf.
exaggeration
“A muchos les parece una exageración.”— Many think it's an exaggeration.
Pattern ser una exageración to be exaggerated
Compare exceso excess
Plural exageraciones
💡 From the verb exagerar, meaning "to exaggerate"
gradaf.
stands, bleachers
“Muchos tenistas juegan con las gradas casi vacías.”— Many tennis players play with the stands almost empty.
Pattern las gradas stands
Compare tribuna stands
Plural gradas
💡 From Latin gradus, meaning "step, stair"
aficionadom.
fan, enthusiast
“Los aficionados quedaron muy lejos.”— The fans were left far away.
Pattern aficionado al fútbol football fan
Compare fan fan
Plural aficionados, feminine aficionada
💡 From afición, meaning "hobby"
extendersev.
to spread, extend
“La 'VIPerización' se extiende a conciertos, festivales y restaurantes.”— The 'VIPerization' extends to concerts, festivals, and restaurants.
Pattern extenderse a spread to
Compare propagarse spread
Present me extiendo, te extiendes, se extiende...
💡 From Latin extendere, meaning "to stretch out"
riesgom.
risk, danger
“Madrid corre el riesgo de convertir sus grandes eventos en escaparates de privilegio.”— Madrid runs the risk of turning its big events into showcases of privilege.
Pattern correr el riesgo to take the risk
Compare peligro danger
Plural riesgos
💡 From Latin risicus, related to "reef"
privilegiom.
privilege
“No en experiencias colectivas, sino en escaparates de privilegio.”— Not in collective experiences, but in showcases of privilege.
Pattern escaparate de privilegio showcase of privilege
Compare ventaja advantage
Plural privilegios
💡 From Latin privilegium, meaning "private law"

Grammar spotlight

cada vez más: 'more and more' / 'increasingly'

cada vez más is followed by an adjective or a noun to show that a quality or quantity is gradually increasing. For example: cada vez hay más zonas VIP ('there are more and more VIP areas').

“Pero cada vez hay más zonas VIP.”— But there are more and more VIP areas.

⚠️ Don't write cada vez más hay; the correct word order is cada vez hay más.

no... sino...: 'not... but rather...'

This structure negates the first element and affirms the second. sino is followed by the element that contrasts with what was negated. For example: Lo importante no es el deporte, sino ver y ser visto.

“Lo importante no es el deporte, sino ver y ser visto.”— The important thing is not the sport, but seeing and being seen.

⚠️ Don't confuse sino with pero. pero expresses contrast ('but'), while sino corrects after a negation ('but rather').

Sentence patterns to steal

Pero cada vez hay más zonas VIP.
But there are more and more VIP areas.
cada vez hay más + nounThe noun can be replaced with other things, e.g. cada vez hay más turistas.
Lo importante no es el deporte, sino ver y ser visto.
The important thing is not the sport, but seeing and being seen.
Lo importante no es + A, sino + BA and B can be replaced with other contrasting elements.
Madrid corre el riesgo de convertir sus grandes eventos en escaparates de privilegio.
Madrid runs the risk of turning its big events into showcases of privilege.
correr el riesgo de + infinitiveThe infinitive can be replaced with other actions, e.g. perder su identidad.

Madrid's VIP Culture

Madrid is the capital of Spain and a hub for major sports and cultural events. In recent years, events such as Formula 1 and the tennis Open have increasingly set up VIP areas, sparking debate about privilege and the public experience. Plaza de Cibeles is a famous celebration spot in Madrid where fans often gather.

Source: Wikipedia/ElDiario.es

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