Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha – stadium description

New stadium for SC Barcelona was planned due to high demand already in 1960’s, but funding was then insufficient. Thus, the idea appeared again in 1980’s and this time with success – in 1985 club was granted a plot in the Bellavista district to land their new ground there. Architects planned the ground for app. 55,000, later increased to over 58,000. Worth a total of $27m, it was ready after two years, in 1987. Unofficial opening took place in late December with home side losing in a friendly against Penarol. Officially it wasn’t opened until late May 1988.

The ground offers a huge variety of seats – from thousands of luxurious chairs in skyboxes to spacious terraces for the less privileged. Though official capacity is below 60,000, it has been proven that 75,000 may be fitted without major problem, while official record from 1997 stands at 91,230. The massive scale and role for Ecuadorian football made FIFA select it to 100 top stadiums in the world and Pele compare it to the famous Maracana.

For its name, Monumental worked on numerous occasions. despite it being inaugurated late, in 1987, it hosted its first continental championship in 1993 (Copa America) and global in 1995 (U17 World Cup), being the final venue on both occasions. Then came two Copa Libertadores finals and various games of the national side while fighting for several World Cup appearences.