Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes
The Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, formerly known as Estadio Córdoba, is a stadium in the Chateau Carreras neighborhood of Córdoba, Argentina. Owned by the Córdoba Province, the venue is used mostly for association football and rugby union matches and also sometimes for athletics.
| Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes | |
Chateau Carreras | |
| Former names | Estadio Córdoba (1978–2010) |
|---|---|
| Address | Av. Cárcano s/n Córdoba, Argentina |
| Owner | Córdoba Province |
| Operator | Government of Córdoba |
| Capacity | 57,000 |
| Field size | 105 x 70 m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1976–1978 |
| Opened | 16 May 1978 |
| Renovated | 2020 |
| Expanded | 2010–11 |
| Architect | Sánchez Elía-Peralta Ramos |
| Tenants | |
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The stadium was built in 1976 in preparation for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, with a capacity for 37,851 spectators although it doesn't provide seating for all of them, like many Argentine stadiums.
Most football teams in Córdoba have their own stadiums but they usually prefer playing in this stadium for its size and comfort, especially when playing important games that attract big crowds. Generally, this stadium is used for Talleres' matches, and is used for Belgrano's, Instituto's and Racing's matches. The Argentina national football team home matches have also been played here.
In 2006 and 2007 the stadium hosted some Special Stages of motorsport event named Rally Argentina, a round of the World Rally Championship.
During 2010 and 2011 the stadium went through a remodelling process. The field was sunken 4 metres, the iconic Autotrol scoreboards installed for the 1978 World Cup were replaced with modern video screens, new stands were built to improve the poor view caused by the shallow shape of the stadium and the capacity was increased to 57,000, becoming the third largest stadium in Argentina by seating capacity. It was re-opened on 26 June 2011, just 5 days before the start of the 2011 Copa América. The stands were fully covered after the cup.
In October 2010 the name was changed to honour Mario Kempes, former Argentina national team player and top goal scorer of the 1978 FIFA World Cup, who was also a native of Córdoba.