Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha
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| El Coloso del Salado | |
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| Former names | Monumental de Barcelona |
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| Location | Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: 2°11′9.13″S 79°55′29.75″W / 2.1858694°S 79.9249306°W |
| Built | 1987 |
| Opened | December 27, 1987 |
| Owner | Barcelona Sporting Club |
| Operator | Barcelona Sporting Club |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $70,000,000 |
| Architect | Miguel Angel Valarezo Tumbaco and Ricardo Mórtola |
| Capacity | 83,835 |
| Field dimensions | 105 x 70 meters |
| Tenants | |
| Barcelona Sporting Club | |
The Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha (officially Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo) is a football stadium located in the parish of Tarqui in northern Guayaquil, Ecuador. The stadium is the home to an Ecuadorian football club Barcelona Sporting Club.
[edit] History
The Monumental was born from the initiative of club president Isidro Romero Carbo. He wanted Barcelona to have its own stadium, whom was playing their home games at the Estadio Modelo Alberto Spencer Herrera.
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 tons of 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.
| “ | Si Maracanã é estadio mais grande do mundo, Monumental é uno de los más belos do mundo. (If Maracanã is the largest stadium in the world, Monumental is one of the most beautiful in 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 Sigfredo Agapito Chuchuca in honor of one of the greatest midfielders in team history.
In January 2, 2008, the President of Barcelona Eduardo Maruri signed a 4-year contract with the Ecuadorian Bank, Banco Pichincha, to have the commercial name of the stadium named after the bank. The legal name will remain as Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo.
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