Gran Parque Central – design description

First presented in autumn of 2014, the scheme for Nacional de Montevideo varies significantly from the plan of their archrivals, Penarol. Instead of building from scratch, Nacional decided to expand and upgrade their existing home to reach 40,000 seats with a light cover.

Nearly all stands will have parts of them retained and upper sections added, creating a massive wall of skyboxes (254 in total, 183 new ones), which are crucial to the project. Sale of the boxes is financing the project’s cost, while additional sections for regular fans, 450 parking places and numerous other facilities should improve matchday use and revenue.

Initially the plan was contemplated as a one-phase development that would end as soon as 2016, but eventually a phased concept was chosen. Preparatory works for the first phase (south and east stands) began in June 2015, actual construction to follow in September. Remaining works are to be carried out as the first one ends.