Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium

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Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel
La Meca, JRL
Location	Route 2, intersection with Route 5, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Built	1973
Opened	1974
Renovated	2003
Owner	Municipality of Bayamon
Surface	Grass(Natural)
Tenants
Puerto Rico Islanders(2003-2004), Vaqueros de Bayamon(?-2002-03)
Capacity
12,500
Dimensions
105×68 m

The Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium (Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel) is a 12,500 seat stadium at Route 2 and Route 5, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The stadium has easy access with one urban train station (known as "Deportivo Station") on premises. Many fans living in the San Juan Metropolitan Area use this mode of transportation when attending the games. Train fee is USD1.50 each way.

[edit] "Early Life"

Built in 1974 and originally used for baseball, it was home to the "Vaqueros de Bayamon" up until 2003 when the team seized to exist.

[edit] "Soccer Life"

In 2003 with the Vaqueros folding the stadium seemed doom to be relegated to a youth stadium or demolition, but late that same year the stadium was reborn and was to be home for another professional club. But this time it would be as a soccer stadium. It had been chosen by the Puerto Rico Islanders as their new home. Its "L" shape stands where not suited for the sport and it originally had a acuored feel to it since the stand behind the goal move away from the pitch. Leading most of the fans to sit in the part of the stands that run parallel to the pitch.

Its also home to the Islanders B, a reserve team in the "Liga Premier de Puerto Rico" and the Lady Islanders female soccer team.

It has also played host to the CFU Club Championship Group C in 2006, where the Islanders played but lost to Trinidad and Tobago, W Connection 0-1 and the Puerto Rico MLS-USL Challenge in 2007.

[edit] "La Meca of Puerto Rican Futbol"

0ver the 4 years that it has played host to the sport it has created a atmosphere that is unique to the stadium and the Islanders. People and players have been quoted saying that "The stadium and the fans give the feeling that they are playing to a crowd of 20,000 and not 5,000".

It has played host to the resurgence of soccer in Puerto Rico and has been given the nickname "La Meca", because it has been a key player in the sport rise to fame in the island. It is also called "JRL" by most fans as a abbreviation to its official name.

Current Stadiums in the USL First Division

Silverbacks Park | Kezar Stadium | SAS Soccer Park | Blackbaud Stadium | Tropical Park Stadium | James Griffin Stadium | Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard | PGE Park | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium | PAETEC Park | Qwest Field | Swangard Stadium | Virginia Beach Sportsplex