Estadio Marcelo Bielsa – design description

How did the design for the extension of Estadio Marcelo Bielsa develop?

The Newell's Old Boys club stadium has been in use since 1911 and the venue has undergone several major upgrades over the years. It received its current shape in the 1990s, when the upper tiers of the stands on the east and south sides were added. In 2009 it was named after Marcelo Bielsa, the club's former player and coach, who later went on to lead, among others, the Argentina national team. The facility has a capacity of 42,000 spectators.

In mid-2022, the president of Newell's Old Boys contacted Rosario-based architect Mario Corea, who was asked to create a concept for the extension of Estadio Marcelo Bielsa. On November 3, 2022, the club's 119th anniversary, the vision for the expansion of the facility was officially unveiled.

What does the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa expansion plan propose?

The concept calls for the construction of a second tier of auditorium in the stand behind the north goal, similar to the one on the opposite side. A new sports hall will also be built next to the north stand. In the west sections, however, the existing boxes and roof will be removed, and instead, just behind the existing auditorium, a wide building with four tiers of boxes will be erected, stretching along the sideline of the pitch.

The stands will be surrounded on all sides by a roof connected to the façade, and two large screens will stand in the corners on the east side. Floodlights will be placed in the roof. There will also be an underground car park and lifts to take fans to the upper sections of the auditorium. The expansion will raise the stadium's capacity to more than 50,000 spectators.

When will Estadio Marcelo Bielsa be upgraded?

It is assumed that the redevelopment will be carried out in stages. The first would involve extending the stand behind the north goal by a second tier. Then the west stand is to be enlarged with a four-storey building with boxes and a roof over the auditorium. In the next phase, a sports hall will be built behind the north stand. In the final, fourth phase, it is planned to build the missing sections of the roof, over the stands on the north, east and south sides.

The expansion is estimated to cost around $20 million. The construction of a building with boxes on the east side should increase the club's revenue, which is expected to help find funds to complete the project. It is not yet known when the upgrade could start. It is possible that the project could be completed in about three years, but due to the club's financial constraints, it is more feasible to stretch the investment out over time, to about five years. While the work is being carried out, the club should continue to play its matches at this stadium.