Estadio Carlos Belmonte – stadium description

When was Estadio Carlos Belmonte built?

Construction of the stadium began in 1959, with the then alcad (mayor) of Albacete, Carlos Belmonte, taking great credit for the creation of the facility. Due to the poor conditions offered by the previous facility where Albacete Balompié footballers played (known as Campo del Parque de Los Mártires), Belmonte, who was also an architect, designed the new stadium himself. Belmonte's merits were later recognised in the form of his appointment as patron of the facility.

The new venue was built approximately 400 m south-east of the old pitch. 3.5 million pesetas for the construction were raised through the sale of tickets, with a further 7.5 million coming from a loan. The stadium was built at a rapid pace and was opened on September 9, 1960, during the traditional annual city fair. For the inauguration, the hosts lost 0:3 in a friendly match against FC Sevilla.

What did the new Albacete Balompié stadium look like initially?

The new stadium had a narrow athletics track, which was surrounded on all sides by oval stands. The capacity of the facility was approximately 10,000 spectators. A marathon tower was erected on the west side, which still exists today, although it is no longer visible from the stadium (it is covered by the roof of the west stand) and is not, as it once was, a distinctive feature of the stadium.

How was Estadio Carlos Belmonte modernized?

In 1970 the stadium was upgraded with lighting masts and in 1979 the roof of the west stand was added. In 1991, the stand on the east side was extended with a second tier including a roof, increasing the capacity of the entire stadium to 14,000 spectators.

At the end of the 1990s, a comprehensive reconstruction of the facility was carried out. The running track around the pitch was removed, which was lowered and moved closer to the east stand. New stands on the north, west (partially covered) and south sides were built right next to the pitch. Smaller-scale renovations were also carried out in 2004 and 2017.

What events has Estadio Carlos Belmonte hosted?

In addition to the venue's permanent host, the Albacete Balompié club, the stadium has also occasionally played host to Spain's first national team, as well as youth teams. In 2021, the venue hosted the King's Cup rugby final. In 1973, the stadium, which still had an athletics track at the time, hosted the finish of one stage of the Vuelta a España. In addition, the venue hosted concerts and other cultural events.

What does the stadium in Albacete look like?

After being rebuilt at the end of the 1990s, the stadium has a football-specific layout, with gently profiled stands close to the pitch and surrounding it on all sides. The tallest is the east stand, the second tier of which is covered. The other stands also have two tiers (the first of the same height), but with a much more modest second tier. The west stand is also partially covered.

Four lighting masts stand in the corners and floodlights are also located in the canopy. The stands are equipped with plastic seats (mostly in white) and the capacity of the stadium is 17,524 spectators. Behind the west stand is the old Marathon Tower.

How Estadio Carlos Belmonte compares to other LaLiga Hypermotion stadiums?