Malvinas Argentinas Stadium

Malvinas Argentinas Stadium (Spanish: Estadio Malvinas Argentinas) is a stadium in the city of Mendoza in the homonymous province of Argentina. With a seating capacity of 42,000 spectators, the stadium is the largest in Mendoza and the fourth largest census metropolitan area in Argentina. Built for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, It is owned and administrated by the Provincial Government.

The venue is mostly used for association football matches, although it has hosted some rugby union games during The Rugby Championship, as well as music concerts. In Primera Division matches, local club Godoy Cruz plays their home matches at Malvinas Argentinas in some occasions.

History

Argentina was chosen as the host nation of the 1978 World Cup by FIFA in London, England on 6 July 1966. Mendoza, as one of the largest cities in the country, was selected as a venue. The organizing committee, under supervision of the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina since 1976, proposed a new stadium to be built by the Cerro de la Gloria, in General San Martin Park, taking advantage of the topography of a natural depression located on the slopes of the hill. Beside the stadium itself, the project included new access roads, parking lots, a training auxiliar field and other complementary works.

The stadium was designed by Uruguayan Rafael Vinoly, and its construction began in 1976. Originally named "Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza" ("City of Mendoza Stadium") it was opened on May 14, 1978 with a friendly match between a team formed by players from Mendoza and another one with players from San Rafael. During June 1978, Mendoza hosted six Fifa World Cup matches, three first round matches and three second round matches. That same year Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza became the first team from Mendoza to play a first division match at the stadium.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Мальвинас Архентинас Стадион (russian)