Estadio Centenario

For the Colombian stadium of the same name, see Estadio Centenario (Armenia, Colombia). For the stadium in Mexico, see Estadio Centenario (Cuernavaca).
Estadio centenario
Full name Estadio Centenario
Location Avenida Dr. Américo Ricaldoni y Federico Videla, Montevideo, Uruguay
Coordinates 34°53′40″S 56°9′10″W / 34.89444°S 56.15278°W / -34.89444; -56.15278Coordinates: 34°53′40″S 56°9′10″W / 34.89444°S 56.15278°W / -34.89444; -56.15278
Owner Departmental Government of Montevideo
Operator AUFI
Capacity 60,235 [1]
Record attendance 93,000 (Uruguay-Yugoslavia, 27 July 1930)
Field size 105 x 68 m
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground 21 July 1929
Built 1929–1930 (8 months)
Opened July 18, 1930
Construction cost $ 1,000,000
Architect Juan Antonio Scasso
Tenants
Uruguay national football team (1930-present)

Estadio Centenario is a stadium in the Parque Batlle neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay, used primarily for football. The stadium was built between 1929 and 1930 to host the 1930 FIFA World Cup, as well as to commemorate the centennial of Uruguay's first constitution. It is listed by FIFA as one of the football world's classic stadiums, along with the likes of the Maracanã, Wembley Stadium, the San Siro, the Estadio Azteca, and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[2] On July 18, 1983, it was declared by FIFA as the only historical monument of World Football, the only building of its kind (worldwide).

The Uruguayan national team has always been a threat when playing in their home stadium, consistently beating top teams. Even the top ranked Brazil national football team has only managed three wins in 20 opportunities, although only one was an official match.

History

The construction of the Centenario is one of the most important stages in the development of sports in South America and international football. It was built especially for the organization of the 1930 FIFA World Cup, by immigrant workers in a record time of nine months. Its name originates from the celebration of 100 years of the ratification of the first Constitution of Uruguay.

Initially, all World Cup matches were to be played in the Centenario. However, heavy rains in Montevideo delayed construction of the stadium, so that several matches had to be played in the Pocitos Stadium of Club Atlético Peñarol, and the Parque Central of Club Nacional de Football. It was inaugurated on July 18, 1930, in the match between Uruguay and Peru, with the Skyblue gaining victory 1–0, with a goal by Hector "Manco" Castro.[3]

Belgian referee John Langenus on the pitch before the 1930 FIFA World Cup Final

The final match of the inaugural World Cup matched Uruguay and Argentina, with Uruguay winning 4–2.[4] Since then, the Centenario has been the scene of Copa America (1942, 1956, 1967, 1995), two South American Youth Championship (1979, 2003), a South American Under-17 Football Championship (1999) and 1980 Mundialito.

Tenants

Video of the stadium prior to a game against Brazil in June 2009

Aside from the Uruguayan national team, any football club can rent the stadium for its home games.[5] Peñarol has done that for nearly every game in the past years,[6] while Nacional rents it for some international games.[7] In the case of other Uruguayan teams, they often decide to play there against both Peñarol and Nacional.[6][7]

Grandstands

The stadium has four Grandstand separated by four lanes. The main one is the Olympic Tribune (and lower Platea known as Olympic), which is named so because the team had won two Olympic championships in a row (1924 and 1928). This has a maximum capacity of 21,648 spectators located in the three rings and the audience.[8] Then there are the "popular", so called because they are sold cheaper, these are: the Colombes, in honor of the town of France in which the national team became Olympic champions 1924 and Amsterdam, because it was where the Celeste were crowned Olympic champions for the second time in 1928. The Grandstand Colombes accommodates 16,414 spectators while the Amsterdam accommodates 16,423. The America Tribune is parallel to the Olympic one. There are also "VIP" boxes and press boxes with room for 1,882 spectators, as well as the platform has room for 2,911 spectators, and additionally the grandstand has room for 5,957 people.

Estadio Centenario. Panorama from Olympic tribune.

Concerts

The stadium has held numerous concerts by both national and international artists such as:[9]

Olympic Tribune

References

3. Gigapan Estadio Centenario.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Estadio Centenario.
Preceded by
none
FIFA World Cup
Final Venue

1930
Succeeded by
Stadio del PNF
Rome
Preceded by
Estadio Nacional de Chile
Santiago
South American Championship
Final Venue

1942
Succeeded by
Estadio Nacional de Chile
Santiago
Preceded by
Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo
Guayaquil
Copa América
Final Venue

1995
Succeeded by
Estadio Hernando Siles
La Paz
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