Estadio Monumental "U"
The Estadio Monumental (Monumental Stadium) is a football stadium in the district of Ate in Lima, Peru. It is the home of Club Universitario de Deportes, and it was opened in 2000 to replace the Estadio Teodoro Lolo Fernandez. Its only legal owner is the club itself. Designed by Progreso International and Gremco S.A., Uruguayan architect Walter Lavalleja Sarriés led the construction of the stadium. At the time of its construction, it became Peru's largest stadium and also the 5th largest in South America. Since its expansion to 80,000 capacity in early 2020s, it has become the second-largest stadium by seating capacity on the continent. The stadium was built in accordance with FIFA’s manual of technical specifications for World Cup finals.
Aerial view | |
| Full name | Estadio Monumental |
|---|---|
| Location | Ate, Lima, Peru |
| Coordinates | 12.055665°S 76.935883°W |
| Owner | Club Universitario de Deportes |
| Executive suites | 1,251 |
| Capacity | 80,093 |
| Field size | 105 m × 69 m (344 ft × 226 ft) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 16 January 1991 |
| Built | 1991–2000 |
| Opened | 2 July 2000 |
| Construction cost | S/.146,538,000 |
| Architect | Walter Lavalleja Sarries |
| Project manager | Walter Lavalleja Sarries |
| Main contractors | Gremco Progreso International |
| Tenants | |
| Club Universitario de Deportes (2000–present) | |
The stadium has hosted some of the Peru national football team's international matches including FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. It also hosted the final stages of the 2008 Copa Perú. However, the Monumental was absent from the organization of the 2004 Copa América because of conflicts between the club and the organizers. In addition, between its opening in 2000 until 2007, only one edition of the Peruvian Clásico was played due to security concerns; however, in late 2008, the derby returned to the stadium.
On November 5, 2019, the Estadio Monumental was selected by CONMEBOL to host the 2019 Copa Libertadores Final, won by Flamengo against River Plate (2-1), after the outbreak of 2019 Chilean protests raised security concerns about the development of the match in Santiago, city initially chosen as host.