Estadio Centenario

Estadio Centenario
Full name	Estadio Centenario
Location	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
Broke ground	21 July 1929
Built	1929–1930 (8 months)
Opened	July 18, 1930
Owner	Departmental Government of Montevideo
Operator	AUFI
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	$ 1,000,000
Architect	Juan Antonio Scasso
Capacity	65,235
Record attendance	93,000 (Uruguay-Yugoslavia, 27 July 1930)
Field dimensions	105 x 68 m
Tenants
CA Peñarol

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 Maracanã, Wembley Stadium, San Siro, Estadio Azteca, and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.^[1] On July 18, 1983, it was declared by FIFA as the only historical monument of World Football, the only building of its kind (worldwide).^{[citation needed]}

The Uruguayan national team has always been a threat when playing in their home stadium, consistently beating top teams. In fact, no European opponent has ever beaten Uruguay at home. Even the top ranked Brazil national football team has only managed 3 wins in 20 opportunities, although only one was an official match.

History

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 swearing in 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, gaining victory skyblue selection by 1–0, with a goal of Hector "Manco" Castro.^[2]

thumb|Belgian referee John Langenus on the pitch before the 1930 FIFA World Cup Final The end of the World cup faced Uruguay and Argentina, with Uruguay winning 4–2.^[3] Since then, the Centenario was the seat 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.^[4] Peñarol has done that for nearly every game in the past years,^[5] while Nacional rents it for some international games.^[6] In the case of other Uruguayan teams, they often decide to play there against both Peñarol and Nacional.^[5][6]

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.^[7] 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. This are the boxes VIP and the boxes of journalists that has room for 1,882 spectators, as well as the platform has room for 2,911 spectators audience, the Grandstand also has room for 5,957 people.

Concerts

The stadium has held numerous concerts by both national and international artists such as:^[8]

Olympic Tribune

References

3. Gigapan Estadio Centenario.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Estadio Centenario.

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