Estadio Atanasio Girardot – stadium description

First plans of creating a large sports center for the growing city of Medellin was outlined in 1930s. In 1940s the masterplan and plot were selected for several sports field, swimming pools and a large central stadium. The latter was opened in 1953.

Upon inauguration it offered single-tiered stands around the field and a covered upper deck in the west. Due to demand it was later expanded twice. First in 1977 an upper tier was added in the east and then in 1990 it was extended through both ends. At that point it was able to hold some 50,000 people, later reduced after conversion to all-seater mode.

In the Colombian league Atletico and Independiente play their home games here and both supplied a load of memorable fixtures. These include domestic and international finals (Copa Sudamericana, Copa Libertadores, etc.). The stadium also hosted the U20 World Cup (2011), Copa America (2001) and opening/closing ceremonies of South American Games (2010).