Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón (El Cilindro)

Capacity42 500
4,600 (Away section)
Country Argentina
CityAvellaneda
ClubsRacing Club de Avellaneda
Inauguration 03/09/1950 (Racing - Vélez Sarsfield, 1-0)
Construction 1948-1950
Renovations 1966, 1995-1997, 2002, 2004
Address Pasaje Mozart y Corbatta, Avellaneda (CP B1870BAB)m Buenos Aires, Argentina

Advertisement

Estadio Presidente Perón – stadium description

The very last game at the old Racing stadium in this location was played on December 1, 1947. The following year complete reconstruction began, ending in 1950. Federal budget offered 3 million peso for the project, but Racing later secured further 8 million from the finance minister, himself an ardent supporter.

The goal was to build an exemplary 100,000-capacity stadium. Its double-tiered stands form an almost perfect circle, with parts cut out in the centre to make enough room for the field. To this day this shape, which earned it the “Cylinder” nickname, remains unique in the world of football.

In 1966 an exhibition game against Bayern Munich inaugurated floodlight masts placed around the stadium, but as of today the western tower built back in 1950 remains the tallest part of the stadium with 60 meters.

In its first decades the stadium, along with Racing’s sporting success, was often filled to or even beyond capacity. Some reports suggest crowds in excess of 120,000 people, though we haven’t found a confirmation.

Still, Racing won several trophies at this ground, including the 1967 Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup or the 1980 Supercopa Sudamericana. El Cilindro also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1951 Pan American games, just a year after inauguration.

Officially named after president Juan Domingo Perón, who contributed to its construction, the stadium went through major renovations in 1990s and early 2000s to meet modern standards. Between 1995 and 1997 it received a roof above the upper stands along with new floodlights. Later additional individual seats were installed and most fences removed.

The stadium stands just 200 meters north-east from Estadio Libertadores de America!

Advertisement

Pictures

Related news

2013