Blooming Arena – design description

Utilising the municipal “El Tahuichi” for nearly all of its history, Club Blooming has for years been planning a relocation to a stadium of their own. However, it wasn't until 2019 that its final iteration was presented.

It envisaged a 25,000-capacity single-tier seating bowl, which offers 11,082 individual seats along the west and east sides of the field. Only the west side would be covered, and by a quite intricate membrane roof, too. Although, in late 2020 the club has hinted that all stands could eventually be covered.

The arena is expected to be built in northern Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia's largest city. Club Blooming had been preparing for this, securing land for their football academy. Thanks to its well planned location, the complex will sit just beside Octavo Anillo, or the 8th avenue/ring-road of Santa Cruz.

A mid-sized park and plaza are planned along the west side of the venue, with a bus bay as well. Training fields are to be located to the north and east. The stadium itself is expected to house as many as 5 levels of amenities (albeit most in the west), meeting all crucial FIFA requirements and providing proper commercial revenue in the long term.

There are two glazed levels below the public concourse surrounding the auditorium. The west stand will house 66 private boxes on two levels and one major lounge connected with indoor restaurant. It's believed that, conditions permitting, the hospitality part could be extended beyond the west side.

Located some 400 meters above sea level, the football ground was initially expected to see groundbreaking in April of 2020, after cornerstone laying in January. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused noticeable delay, seeing actual start in late October. Making up for the lost time, the project was then scheduled for completion in 24 months rather than 3 years, as was expected initially.

The price tag has also been changing. Back in 2019 the budget was expected to be around $10 million, then reaching 12 million. Upon groundbreaking in 2020 it was already at $16 million. Bulk of the price is to be covered by bank loans and long-term lease of the hospitality areas and individual seats.