Estadio Alberto J Armando, officially named Estadio Alberto J. Armando, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is used mostly for association football matches, hosting the home games of Argentine club Boca Juniors, its owner.
Opened on 25 May 1940 with an exhibition match between Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo, it replaced the original Estadio Brandsen, which had 49,000 seats. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 54,000. The stadium was designed by architect Jose Luis Delpini and had a construction cost of 2.5 million pesos.
A CONMEBOL category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in Argentina, Estadio Alberto J Armando hosted several matches of the Copa America, including its final, as well as the 2018 final of the Copa Libertadores. It was praised for its distinctive atmosphere in a 2014 online poll by L'Équipe. By its eightieth birthday, Estadio Alberto J Armando had welcomed more than 42 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Argentina will co-host along with Uruguay and Paraguay.
The current Boca Juniors stadium, also known as 'Estadio Alberto J. Armando', is popularly referred to by its unofficial name, La Bombonera. La Bombonera, which translates to 'The Chocolate Box' due to its unique shape, is located in the La Boca neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This unofficial name caught on soon after the stadium's construction due to its distinctive flat and steep stands, creating an image reminiscent of a box of chocolates. Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'La Bombonera'. However, its official name pays tribute to Alberto J. Armando, who was president of the Boca Juniors football club for the longest period in the club's history, serving from 1954 to 1980. During his tenure, Armando was instrumental in transforming Boca Juniors into one of the most successful and popular football teams in Argentina and the world. Hence, in honor of his remarkable contribution, the stadium was officially named the 'Estadio Alberto J. Armando'. The stadium is not only a symbol of the passion and fervor that Argentine football is renowned for but also a testament to the enduring popularity and success of the Boca Juniors football club.
The ideal location, boasting excellent accessibility and sufficient space for future expansions, was identified in the La Boca neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Situated on the edge of the La Boca and Barracas neighbourhoods, the new stadium was initially known as 'Estadio de La Boca'.
The club always aimed to own both the stadium and the surrounding lands. Initially, a lease was made on the municipal lands, with a final purchase only taking place in 1950. The plans for the sports complex were drafted as early as the late 1930s by Victorio Spinetto, a former player for the club.
Under the guidance of the club's president, Alberto J. Armando, the associates dealt with a raised fee for supporting the construction costs for the new stadium. They made substantial donations, and some even worked on the construction site during holidays or weekends. A 'cement campaign' was initiated, in which large amounts of cement bags were donated to the club.
The construction officially began on 25 August 1938. Less than two years later, at a cost of 10,000,000 pesos, the stadium was completed. On 25 May 1940 (a national holiday), a crowd of 49,000 filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rivals San Lorenzo.
'Estadio Alberto J. Armando (1940)' (in Spanish). Club Atlético Boca Juniors. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2015. https://www.bocajuniors.com.ar/el-club/estadio
'Estadio Alberto J. Armando (La Bombonera) – until 2003'. StadiumDB.com. Retrieved 7 February 2015. http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/arg/la_bombonera
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