Estadio Cuscatlán
Encyclopedia
Monumental Estadio Cuscatlán is a football
stadium located in San Salvador
, El Salvador
. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000. The stadium is the home ground of the El Salvador national football team
as well as club team Alianza FC.
(now known as Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González). Its creation was made possible by EDESSA (Estadios Deportivos de El Salvador) who in 1969 first proposed the idea of a new national stadium.
Construction began on March 24, 1971, with then-president of El Salvador General Fidel Sánchez Hernández
laying the first stone. After 5 years of building, the stadium was opened and held its very first game on July 24, 1976. This day saw German Bundesliga
champions Borussia Mönchengladbach
play the El Salvador national team
, with the match ending 2-0 to the German side.
On May 25, 1978, EDESSA agreed to and signed a 99 year lease of the stadium to CLIMA (Asociación de Clubes de Liga Mayor A'). As a result, CLIMA is now the operator of the stadium, and controls what events are held there.
It was announced on November 16, 2007 that Estadio Cuscatlán would become the first football stadium in Central America and Caribbean to have a large LED screen where the supporters can view the action. The screen is 40 meters in height and width and was completed in March, 2008.
The modernization also extends to the pitch, which includes:
The following table details the set capacity limitations on each section, as approved by FIFA, the Salvadoran football federation and EDESSA.
The Stadium's seating structure is separated into 9 different sections.
These are (most expensive to least expensive):
Because a definitive capacity cannot be obtained for those sections in which there are no seats, the three parties concerned have agreed to the official capacity being the average of the three estimates, 45,925.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadium located in San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000. The stadium is the home ground of the El Salvador national football team
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
as well as club team Alianza FC.
History
Cuscatlán stadium was first developed as a replacement to what at the time was El Salvador's largest stadium, Estadio Nacional de la Flor BlancaEstadio Jorge "Mágico" González
Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González is formerly known as Estadio Nacional "De la Flor Blanca", referring to the name of the suburb where it is located in San Salvador. It is a football stadium in El Salvador. It is named after Jorge Alberto González...
(now known as Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González). Its creation was made possible by EDESSA (Estadios Deportivos de El Salvador) who in 1969 first proposed the idea of a new national stadium.
Construction began on March 24, 1971, with then-president of El Salvador General Fidel Sánchez Hernández
Fidel Sánchez Hernández
Fidel Sánchez Hernández was a politician, general, and former President of El Salvador. It could be said that Sánchez Hernández led his country during a tumultuous era...
laying the first stone. After 5 years of building, the stadium was opened and held its very first game on July 24, 1976. This day saw German Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
champions Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
play the El Salvador national team
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
, with the match ending 2-0 to the German side.
On May 25, 1978, EDESSA agreed to and signed a 99 year lease of the stadium to CLIMA (Asociación de Clubes de Liga Mayor A'). As a result, CLIMA is now the operator of the stadium, and controls what events are held there.
The Stadium
The stadium, with a capacity of 44,313, is the largest football venue not only in Central America, but the Caribbean as well. In addition to being the largest, Estadio Cuscatlán is often referred to as the most modern stadium in the region also.It was announced on November 16, 2007 that Estadio Cuscatlán would become the first football stadium in Central America and Caribbean to have a large LED screen where the supporters can view the action. The screen is 40 meters in height and width and was completed in March, 2008.
The modernization also extends to the pitch, which includes:
- French drainage system to allow water to flow off the grounds when it rains excessively
- 6 sprinkler systems to self water the grounds
- Dugouts for both home and away teams, each with its own lavatory
- Imported high quality grass
- Various V.I.P. boxes
Capacity
The stadium's capacity has been the topic of much dispute, with many saying that its official capacity is not accurate. As the stadium only has seats available in certain sections, it is difficult to estimate the maximum capacity when trying to take into account how many spectators could fit into the sections without seats.The following table details the set capacity limitations on each section, as approved by FIFA, the Salvadoran football federation and EDESSA.
The Stadium's seating structure is separated into 9 different sections.
These are (most expensive to least expensive):
| Section | Fifa | Federation | EDESSA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palcos | 3,400 | 3,400 | 3,400 |
| Platea | 2,263 | 2,140 | 3,250 |
| Tribuna Norte | 1,922 | 1,856 | 2,750 |
| Tribuna Sur | 1,959 | 1,891 | 2,250 |
| Sombra Norte | 3,788 | 4,350 | 5,250 |
| Sombra Sur | 2,441 | 2,750 | 4,250 |
| Sol Preferente Norte | 4,157 | 4,570 | 5,450 |
| Sol Preferente Sur | 6,294 | 6,294 | 8,050 |
| Sol General | 14,144 | 17,062 | 18,250 |
| Total | 40,368 | 44,313 | 52,900 |
Because a definitive capacity cannot be obtained for those sections in which there are no seats, the three parties concerned have agreed to the official capacity being the average of the three estimates, 45,925.