Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo
|
El Monumental El Coloso del Salado El Templo | |
 | |
| Full name |
Estadio Banco Pichincha (official) Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo (legal) |
|---|---|
| Former names | Monumental de Barcelona |
| Location | Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: 2°11′9.13″S 79°55′29.75″W / 2.1858694°S 79.9249306°W |
| Owner | Barcelona Sporting Club |
| Operator | Barcelona Sporting Club |
| Capacity | 57,267[1] |
| Field size | 105 x 70 meters |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1987 |
| Opened | December 27, 1987 |
| Construction cost | $70,000,000 |
| Architect | Jose Viteri |
| Tenants | |
| Barcelona | |
The Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo (also known for sponsorship reasons as Estadio Banco Pichincha) is a football stadium located in the parish of Tarqui in northern Guayaquil, Ecuador. The stadium is the home to Ecuadorian football club Barcelona.
History
The Monumental was born from the initiative of club president Isidro Romero Carbo. He wanted Barcelona, at the time playing their home games at the Estadio Modelo Alberto Spencer Herrera, to have their own stadium.
The stadium was inaugurated on December 27, 1987. The first game was played against Barcelona FC of Spain, which Barcelona SC won 1-0. Barcelona invited many South American football celebrities, such as Pelé, to the inauguration. Pelé was so astonished, he compared the stadium to the famous Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.
| “ | Se o Maracanã é o maior estádio do mundo, o Monumental é um dos mais belos. (If Maracanã is the largest stadium in the world, Monumental is one of the most beautiful in the world). |
” |
Pelé and his phrase have a golden plaque inside the stadium.
There are health care facilities, apparel-and-souvenir shops, and restaurants, on a total area of about 5,100 m². The football field is 105 metres long and 70 metres wide. The training field near the stadium is called Alternate Field Sigifredo Agapito Chuchuca in honor of one of the greatest midfielders in team history.
On January 2, 2008, president of Barcelona Eduardo Maruri signed a 4-year contract with Ecuadorian bank Banco Pichincha to have the stadium named after the bank.
