Dennis Martínez National Stadium (Spanish: Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez) is located in Managua, Nicaragua. It was named after former MLB player Dennis Martínez.
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The stadium was built in 1948 and is Nicaragua's national stadium. It is used mainly for baseball but also serves as a venue for concerts, football, religious events and has a capacity of 30,100 people.[1] It is the home stadium of Indios del Bóer baseball team and Deportivo Walter Ferretti football team. Inside the stadium is a hall of fame near the entrance showing medals, cups, photos and memories of Nicaraguan players. There is also a gym located inside.[2]
The stadium has been renamed three times.[3] Built in 1948, it was originally named "El Estadio Nacional" (The National Stadium). After the 1972 earthquake that struck Managua and destroyed 90% of the city, it was rebuilt and renamed after Anastasio Somoza García. In 1979, after the Sandinistas overthrew the Somoza dynasty, it was renamed in honor of Rigoberto López Pérez,[4] the man who, in 1956, assassinated Anastasio Somoza García. On November 20, 1998, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the stadium, then-President Arnoldo Alemán issued a decree changing the stadium's name to Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez.[5] Dennis Martinez,[6] was Major League Baseball's first Nicaraguan-born player is the only pitcher born outside of the United States to have thrown a Perfect game.[7]