Estadio Defensores del Chaco
 The stadium during a match between Olimpia Asunción and 3 de Febrero in 2011. | |
| Location |
Asunción Paraguay |
|---|---|
| Owner | The local council of Asunción |
| Capacity | 42,354 seated[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1917[2] |
| Renovated | 2000, 2015 |
| Tenants | |
| Paraguay national football team, Club Nacional, Club Guaraní, Club Olimpia (1917-Present) | |
Estadio de los Defensores del Chaco is a multi-purpose stadium in Asunción, Paraguay. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium once had a 50,000+ capacity, however over the years the stadium has undergone remodeling, dropping the capacity to 42,354.[3] The stadium was again renovated in 2015.[4]
Overview
The stadium was opened in 1917 and its first name was "Estadio de Puerto Sajonia" because it was located in the Sajonia neighbourhood in Asunción. After Uruguay won the Olympic gold medal in football in 1924, the Paraguayan Football Association decided to rename the stadium "Uruguay" to honor the South American Nation. Later, the name was reverted to Estadio Puerto Sajonia.
During the Chaco War, the stadium was used as a munitions depot and troop meeting arena. After the war, it was renamed with the current name "Defensores del Chaco" (Defenders of the Chaco) in honour of the triumphant soldiers that took part in the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia. It underwent renovations during 1939, 1996 and 2007.[5]
The stadium is not owned by a team (it is a national stadium) and it is used primarily to host the home games of the Paraguay national football team and for international football club tournament games such as the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. It also held important matches during the 1999 Copa América, including the final in which Brazil defeated Uruguay.
Tenants
The Paraguay national football team plays their home fixtures at the stadium during FIFA World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies.
Local clubs such as Club Olimpia, Club Nacional and Club Guaraní often play their home games at the stadium for Primera División Paraguaya, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana fixtures.
Accidents and Incidents
- 1 February 2009; two anti-riot police officers were killed and five injured when they were struck by a cement block that was part of the stadium. The cement block fell from a height of seven meters. The football match taking place during the collapse was delayed 40 minutes.[6]
Other events
| Country | Artist | Date | Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Roxette | 23 April 1992 | Join the Joyride! World Tour |
 | Luis Miguel | 3 December 1996 | Tour America 1996 |
| RBD | 25 April 2008 | Empezar desde Cero Tour 2008 |
    | Il Divo | 20 December 2011 | |
 | Paul McCartney | 17 April 2012 | On the Run |
Gallery
-
Exterior of the stadium.
-
Fans of Club Olimpia Asunción.
-
Fans of Club Olimpia Asunción.
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.worldstadiums.com/south_america/countries/paraguay.shtml
- ↑ http://www.worldstadiums.com/south_america/countries/paraguay.shtml
- ↑ http://www.worldstadiums.com/south_america/countries/paraguay.shtml
- ↑ http://www.5dias.com.py/40331-estiman-que-obra-del-defensores-superara-los-us-2-5-millones
- ↑ Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol
- ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/02/02/paraguay.stadium/index.html
External links
Coordinates: 25°17′31.46″S 57°39′26.57″W / 25.2920722°S 57.6573806°W
| Preceded by Estadio Hernando Siles La Paz |
Copa América Final Venue 1999 |
Succeeded by Estadio El Campín Bogotá |
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