Nuevo estadio Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb – design description

What is the redevelopment project for Club Olimpia's stadium in a nutshell?

Plans to expand the stadium owned by Club Olimpia, Paraguay's oldest and most successful football club, were announced on April 23, 2024, and just three days later work officially began. Within a few months, however, there were reports that the club is working on something much bigger than the project presented in April.

On December 11, 2024, the big news was announced: the Club Olimpia stadium was to host one game of the 2030 World Cup, and the stadium itself would undergo a much larger redevelopment than originally envisioned, to become the largest and most modern in the entire country.

Back in late 2024, the stands on the east and south sides were demolished. New ones are expected to be ready in 2027, followed by reconstruction of the main stand and the stand behind the north goal. This phase is expected to be completed by 2029.

Why does Club Olimpia need a new stadium?

Club Olimpia is the oldest and most successful football club in Paraguay. Among other things, the team has a record number of national championship titles, as well as three triumphs in the prestigious Copa Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup victory.

The team plays its matches at Estadio Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb. The facility was inaugurated in 1965, and in the 21st century it is far from being up to modern standards and is certainly not a facility worthy of such a successful team.

Moreover, most interesting fixtures of Club Olimpia usually take place not at their home venue, but at the much larger Estadio Defensores del Chaco.

What is the name of Club Olimpia's stadium?

Club Olimpia's stadium was for a long time named Estadio Manuel Ferreira (in honor of the club's president, during whose tenure the stadium was built), but in March 2024 the stadium was named after Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb, who died shortly before, also a former club president, during whose reign Olimpia enjoyed its most spectacular successes. Interestingly, his son, Alejandro Domínguez, is the president of CONMEBOL.

When were the first plans to expand the Club Olimpia stadium conceived?

Even before the stadium was redeveloped, it had undergone several minor renovations, including the installation of new seats in the main stand in mid-2017, and in early 2020 the stand on the opposite side received additional lower rows of seating. However, these were rather minor changes that did not significantly affect the overall condition of the facility.

Major changes were announced on April 23, 2024, when a design for the stadium expansion was unveiled, led by architect Nicole Hellmers.

Just three days later, a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony was held. Guests at the ceremony included important figures, in addition to Club Olimpia president Rodrigo Nogués, Paraguayan president Santiago Peña and the heads of the Paraguayan Football Federation as well as CONMEBOL, Robert Harrison and Alejandro Domínguez.

What were the initial plans for the Club Olimpia stadium expansion?

According to plans presented in April 2024, balconies with boxes were to be added above the main stand, along its entire length. The stands on the other sides were to receive a second tier, and the stadium's capacity would increase to 32,000 spectators. The facility would also be extensively renovated and upgraded, and two video screens were to be installed behind the goals.

The expansion was to take only about six months, so that the facility would be ready to host the Copa Sudamericana final, scheduled for November 23, 2024. The cost was assumed at $7 million.

What was the development of the Club Olimpia stadium expansion case?

Not long after the work began, however, it became apparent that it would not be completed within the expected timeframe.

Instead, within a few months there were reports that Club Olimpia is working on something bigger than the plans presented in April. At the end of July 2024, architect Diego Suárez of the PATH URBAN studio released new renderings, which showed that the stadium would also receive a canopy and a striking facade.

In October 2024, it was reported in the media that the stadium would grow much larger than initially reported and would be the largest in the country. However, the club avoided any official statements.

Initially it was assumed that the stadium would only be expanded with new additions, meanwhile, in late autumn 2024, complete demolition of the stands on the east and south sides began.

What does the 2030 World Cup have to do with the Club Olimpia stadium?

Paraguay, along with Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, applied to host the 2030 World Cup. The advantage of the bid was the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, which was held for the first time precisely in South America (in Uruguay), while infrastructure remained a drawback.

In October 2023, FIFA announced the awarding of the hosting of the tournament to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, but in honor of the anniversary, a gesture was also made to South American countries, where three matches were to be held at the start of the tournament: one each in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

While in Argentina and Uruguay the choice of the venues for these matches was rather obvious (Mâs Monumental and Estadio Centenario), in Paraguay there was a big problem in identifying a stadium where such a game could be held.

Initially, there were reports of the construction of a new Estadio CONMEBOL, which would be largely financed by the South American football confederation. In July 2024, when the official bid (the so-called “bid book”) was published, it indicated two possible options for Paraguay: upgrading the Estadio Defensores del Chaco or building a new national stadium.

The final decision on Paraguay's stadium for the World Cup was announced on December 11, 2024, with none of the previous favorites being chosen, instead opting for a facility owned by Club Olimpia. The club also released new renderings of the stadium expansion on the same day.

What are the latest plans for the Club Olimpia stadium expansion?

The plans, which appeared successively in April, July and December 2024, show a gradual evolution of the project, with the latest change being a significant enlargement of the stands, especially those behind the goals, which will receive a parabolic edge and be the tallest in the stadium.

The stadium is expected to increase its capacity to 46,000 spectators, overtaking the Estadio Defensores del Chaco and Estadio General Pablo Rojas to become the largest in the country. Apart from the main stand, there will be high, three-story stands around the pitch.

In the main stand, instead of upper tiers, there will be multi-level balconies with lodges. In smaller numbers, lodges will also be built in the other stands. A club store and museum will also be created. The stands will obtain a canopy, and the exterior will receive a decorative facade.

With the reconstruction, Club Olimpia will get a brand new stadium – the largest and most modern in Paraguay. This will be a huge step for the award-winning club, and is expected to help it maintain its leading position for years and even decades to come.

When will the reconstruction of the Club Olimpia stadium be completed?

In the first stage, the stands on the east and south sides will be built. The old stands were demolished at the end of 2024, and the new ones are expected to be ready in 2027. The reconstruction is to be followed by the main stand and the one behind the north goal. This phase is expected to be completed in 2029.

How much will it cost to rebuild the Club Olimpia stadium?

The cost of the project has been estimated at $60.025 million, of which CONMEBOL is expected to put up $20 million, and the rest will be financed by the club, which hopes to make significant profits from operating the new stadium.