Estadio Ciudad de La Plata
| Único | |
 | |
| Full name | Estadio Ciudad de La Plata |
|---|---|
| Location | La Plata, Argentina |
| Owner |
 Buenos Aires Province |
| Capacity | 53,000[1] |
| Field size | 105 x 70 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1997 - 2003 |
| Opened | June 7, 2003 |
| Construction cost | $ 100 million approx. |
| Architect | Roberto Ferreira |
| Tenants | |
|
Estudiantes de La Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata (some games) | |
The Estadio Ciudad de La Plata (City of La Plata Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium located in the city of La Plata, Argentina. It is also known popularly as the Estadio Único and is owned by the Province of Buenos Aires, administered jointly by the provincial government, the Municipality of La Plata, and the football clubs Estudiantes de La Plata and Gimnasia y Esgrima de la Plata.
History
Opened on June 7, 2003, the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata is one of the most modern of Latin America, even without having completed all of the planned construction. Its tenants include Estudiantes LP and Gimnasia y Esgrima LP. Gimnasia returned to their original stadium in mid-2008.
It is located between 32nd and 526th avenues, 25 Street and 21. These fields also contain a small rugby stadium and a center for Physical Education, which tend to be intercollegiate events with schools in the area, such as the school No. 31, better known as the Saint Martin Commercial.
Besides the planned placement of the cover to the third stage, which will begin in 2009, by virtue of being made the first two stages.
Beginnings
The idea of the project began in 1947 when Governor Domingo Mercante expropriated the property located at the junction of Roads 32 and 25 and formed the La Plata Sports Complex.
In 1972, La Plata was to be a candidate to host matches in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
In 1989, after a meeting between the Buenos Aires Province Government and the Municipality of La Plata's, Estudiantes and Gimnasia, created a committee to build and manage a complex dedicated entirely to the practice of football and other sports.
Thus, after reviewing several alternatives, the construction of the stadium was proposed to take place in the area of the Center for Physical Education No. 2. This determined as the most accessible area for a stadium in La Plata. In January 1992 it was signed into law 11118, which established the construction site.
Present
Construction
On April 21, 1992, the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata Foundation was established, which was an institution composed equally of representatives from Estudiantes and Gimnasia. The College of Architects and Engineers held a meeting in April 1993 to choose an architectural proposal. It was awarded to Roberto Ferreira & Associates.
In 1996 a permit was given by the Executive Branch that awarded the provincial administration the right to begin construction the following year. The Executive Unit called for public tenders for the job.
A year later they began building the supports for the roof. And in 1998, the governor Eduardo Duhalde and the Mayor of La Plata, Julio Alak, laid the first stone to begin the construction of the stadium.
The works also detained foir trade union and economic problems in 2000, so ad with Eduardo Duhalde as President of the Nation, called for a new tender for the allocation of investment with a view to its installation in May 2003.
Opening and events
The stadium opened on June 7, 2003. The stadium was temporarily closed to convert it into an all-seater stadium, and to install a new roof intended to cover all seats. Work had gone ahead of schedule and the roof was finished before the end of February. The stadium was officially reopened on February 17, 2011, and its first match was played six days later between Estudiantes and Deportes Tolima for the Group 7 of the 2011 Copa Libertadores.
The stadium has since become a significant venue for musicians on tour. Over 300,000 tickets to such events at the stadium were sold in 2011, ranking the La Plata Stadium fifth worldwide in performing events tickets sold.[2]
Events
Friendly matches
The stadium has hosted at least two friendly matches featuring the national team.
| Date | Time (UTC-03) | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 16, 2003 | — |  Argentina | 2–2 |  Uruguay | Friendly | 40,000 |
| June 7, 2014 | 14:45 | Argentina | 2–0 |  Slovenia | Friendly | 53,000 |
2011 Copa América
The stadium was confirmed as one of seven venues to host the 2011 Copa América in Argentina including the opening game. La Plata ended up hosting a total of six matches.
| Date | Time (UTC-03) | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2011 | 21:45 | Argentina | 1–1 |  Bolivia | Group A |
| July 3, 2011 | 16:00 |  Brazil | 0–0 |  Venezuela | Group B |
| July 12, 2011 | 21:45 | Uruguay | 1–0 |  Mexico | Group C |
| July 17, 2011 | 16:00 | Brazil | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (Penalties: 0–2) |  Paraguay | Quarterfinals |
| July 19, 2011 | 21:45 |  Peru | 0–2 | Uruguay | Semifinals |
| July 31, 2011 | 16:00 | Peru | 4–1 | Venezuela | Third Place Final |
The Rugby Championship
The stadium has also hosted a number of rugby matches between the Argentina Pumas and the New Zealand All Blacks as part of the Rugby Championship, which Argentina joined in 2012.
| Date | Time (UTC-03) | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 29, 2012 | 20:10 | Argentina | 15–54 |  New Zealand | Round 5 | 53,000 |
| September 28, 2013 | 19:40 | Argentina | 15–33 | New Zealand | Round 5 | 40,207 |
| September 27, 2014 | 19:10 | Argentina | 13–34 | New Zealand | Round 5 | 37,000 |
Panorama
Concerts
- The Irish rock band U2 played 3 concerts at the stadium as part of U2 360° Tour. The shows happened on March 30, April 2 and 3, 2011.
- Guns N' Roses played here on October 8, 2011 as part of the Chinese Democracy Tour.
- Aerosmith performed here on October 28, 2011 during Back On the Road Tour.
- Pearl Jam played in here on November 13 ,2011 during Pearl Jam Twenty Tour, and November 7, 2015 during Pearl Jam 2015 Latin America Tour.
- The popstar Britney Spears performed at the venue on November 20, 2011 during her Femme Fatale Tour.
- Black Sabbath played here with Megadeth on October 6, 2013 as part of the 13 Tour.
- Metallica performed at the venue on March 29 and 30, 2014 as part of the Metallica By Request Tour.
- Foo Fighters performed at the venue on Juanary 18, 2015 as part of the Sonic Highways World Tour.
- The Rolling Stones made three shows at La Plata during their América Latina Olé Tour 2016.
- Coldplay played in La Plata two concerts during their A Head Full of Dreams Tour, after a show at this stadium was cancelled in 2013 scheduled to be part of the Mylo Xyloto Tour.
See also
References
External links
Coordinates: 34°54′49.5″S 57°59′20.5″W / 34.913750°S 57.989028°W
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