Universidad Católica, together with Cruzados SADP, announced plans to revamp the stadium. The works are to begin in 2022 and be completed by the end of 2023. The total investment will amount to $ 30 million.

How will Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo change?

After the reconstruction, the facility is to create a multifunctional space where it will be possible to organize sports, business and cultural events. The design assumes the construction of a venue with a capacity of 20,000 seats, with four rectangular stands with two levels. Importantly, all of them will have a flat roof.

© IDOM

Currently, Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, which was established in 1988, can accommodate around 14,700 spectators. The last major renovation took place in 2012, when seats were installed on the Alberto Fouillioux tribune and lounges were built on Sergio Livingstone stand.

A five-story building will be integrated into the main stand. It is to become a back office for the press and fulfill commercial functions. In addition, logistics and security operations will be carried out there. It is also known that there are plans to expand the dressing rooms, build lounges and VIP areas, as well as modernize the sound system.

The new roof will improve the acoustics of the facility. It will not let the sound out, reflecting it towards the turf. Importantly, it will also limit the light leakage outside the stadium. It is already known that part of its structure will be made of glued laminated timber.

© IDOM

Lighting masts will disappear with the installation of the latest generation of LED floodlights. Moreover, there will be 400 photovoltaic panels that will provide the necessary energy for the match day.

The designers of the stadium plan to reduce water consumption by 10% thanks to the use of efficient taps, automatic pitch irrigation and the creation of a small sewage treatment plant.

The construction design was created by the Spanish architectural office - IDOM, which was responsible for the design of the San Mamés Barria stadium. The environmental advisor is the Canadian consulting company WSP, which performed analyzes for Allianz Arena. Canadians will be responsible for management and engineering. Chilean company URBANO will take care of road and transport issues.

© IDOM

End of works before Pan-American Games

After the revamp, Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo will enable the organization of Copa Libertadores matches (including the quarter-finals). The facility is set to become one of the Pan-American Games arenas in Santiago in 2023. It is important that the venue is ready by October 20th, 2023, when the event starts. At least those are the plans.

As already mentioned, the total investment in the stadium will be $ 30 million. Additionally, it is planned to spend $ 1.7 million on works related to improving road traffic around the facility. Juan Pablo Pareja, Cruzados General Manager, emphasizes that the stadium is to create a multi-functional space focused on sport, business, health and entertainment.

© IDOM

Cruzados' board of directors, together with financial advisors, assess the financing structure of the works. A capital increase, debt issuance (bonds) as well as sale of rights to the name of the stadium (up to 15 years) are being considered. All of this is planned for 2021.

Construction works are likely to start in the first half of 2022. The project is now waiting for a study on the impact on urban transport to be completed. The environmental impact declaration was submitted in October last year.

Author: Tomasz Sobura