Estadio Olímpico (Caracas)
| Estadio Olímpico de la UCV | |
|---|---|
 Copa America 2007-Mexico vs Uruguay | |
| Full name | Estadio Olímpico de la Universidad Central de Venezuela |
| Location | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Built | 1950 - 1951 |
| Opened | 1951 |
| Renovated | 2007 |
| Owner | Universidad Central de Venezuela |
| Construction cost | US$16 million |
| Capacity | 24,900 |
| Tenants | |
|
Caracas F.C. Deportivo Petare | |
The Estadio Olímpico de la UCV is a multi-purpose stadium in Caracas, Venezuela. It is a multipurpose stadium with a running track used primarily for the practice of football, athletics and rugby, which is part of the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas and as such named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most important stadiums of Venezuela and one of the oldest in the country. Anecdotally, the Venezuela national football team has not played at this stadium as of September 3, 2003.
Overview
It is the home stadium for the Caracas football teams Deportivo Italia and Caracas FC. The stadium is one of the many sports complexes in the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas. This university campus designed by Carlos Raúl Villanueva was built between 1940 and 1960. It is an outstanding example of modern architecture. The campus integrates a number of buildings and functions into a cohesive ensemble, and includes such masterpieces as the Aula Magna with the "Clouds" by Alexander Calder, the Estadio Olimpico, and the Covered Plaza.
The stadium had a capacity of 30,000 spectators and is now used as headquarters for some of the matches of the football team from Venezuela, as well as for the clubs home stadium of FC Caracas and Deportivo Italia. In this field also play at youth level of the Central University of Venezuela and practices of rugby, among others. Because of the Copa America 2007, it underwent a remodel with an investment of 40 billion Bolivars. Its capacity fell to 24,900 for the installation of seats in the entire structure.
History
The stadium is by the famous Venezuelan architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva was inaugurated under the leadership of the military junta in 1948 to mark the 1951 Bolivarian Games. Significantly, this stadium has hosted major events such as the Copa Libertadores, the 1983 Pan American Games and the South American qualifiers for the World Cup, the former Merconorte Cup and matches of the Copa America, both the match the end of the 3rd. since the 2007 Copa America and the Grand Final of the 1975 Copa America. There have been several important football teams that have played at this stadium, such as the F.C. Internazionale Milano, A.C. Milan, Di Stéfano's Real Madrid, Lev Yashin´s USSR, and also Maradona with Argentina and Pelé with Brazil and the Santos FC.
The use of the stadium generates controversy and debate in the academic community due to the completion of a series of concerts and sporting activities in the view of a section of the UCV deteriorating facilities and especially the soccer stadium. According to statements of the Director of COPPE (Preservation and Development Council of the UCV), the stadium was not designed or intended for concerts and musical shows.
The Copa America 1975 Final between Peru and Colombia was also played in this stadium.
In 2009, Aerosmith was to be the first act playing at Estadio Olímpico. The concert was cancelled due to a knee infection to lead guitarist Joe Perry.
Copa America
Copa America 1975
The stadium was the venue for the Copa America 1975 play-off final:
| Date | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-10-28 |  Peru | 1-0 |  Colombia | Play-off Final |
Copa America 2007
The stadium was one of the venues for the Copa America 2007. The following games were played at the stadium during said event:
| Date | Time(EDT) | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-07-14 | 17.00 |  Uruguay | 1-3 |  Mexico | 3rd Place |
References
External links
Media related to Estadio Olímpico de la Universidad Central de Venezuela at Wikimedia Commons
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Coordinates: 10°29′28.60″N 66°53′07.77″W / 10.4912778°N 66.8854917°W