Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha

infobox stadium
name = Monumental Banco Pichincha
(Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo)
nickname = El Coloso del Salado


fullname =
location = Guayaquil, Ecuador
coordinates = coord|2|11|9.13|S|79|55|29.75|W|type:landmark|display=title
broke_ground =
built = 1987
opened = December 27, 1987
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner = Barcelona Sporting Club
operator = Barcelona Sporting Club
surface = Grass
construction_cost = $70,000,000.00
architect = Miguel Angel Valarezo Tumbaco
structural engineer =
services engineer =
general_contractor =
project_manager =
main_contractors =
former_names = Monumental de Barcelona
tenants = Barcelona Sporting Club
capacity = 89,930
dimensions = 105 x 70 meters
scoreboard =

The Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha (officially Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo) is a football stadium located in the parish of Tarqui in northern Guayaquil, Ecuador. The stadium is the home to an Ecuadorian football club Barcelona Sporting Club.

History

The Monumental was born from the initiative of club president Isidro Romero Carbo. He wanted Barcelona to have its own stadium, whom was playing their home games at the Estadio Modelo Alberto Spencer Herrera.

The stadium was inaugurated on December 27, 1987. the first home game in the stadium was Barcelona FC of Spain, which Barcelona SC won 1-0. Barcelona invited tons of South American football celebrities, such as Pelé, to the inauuration. Pelé was so astonished, he compared the stadium to the famous Maracanã in Rio de Janiero.

Pelé and his phrase have a golden plaque inside the stadium.

The Estadio Monumental has a capacity of 89,930 spectators, making it the second largest stadium in South America in terms of capacity. There are also health care facilities, apparel-and-souvenir shops, and restaurants, on a total area of about 5,100 m². The football field is 105 meters long and 70 meters wide. The training field near the stadium is called "Alternate Field Sigfredo Agapito Chuchuca" in honor of one of the greatest midfielders in team history.

In January 2 2008, the President of Barcelona Eduardo Maruri signed a 4-year contract with the Ecuadorian Bank, Banco Pichincha, to have the commercial name of the stadium named after the bank. The legal name will remain as Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo.

External links

* [http://www.bsc.ec/reportajesinfo.php?id=182 19 Years of Monumental]
* [http://www.ecuafutbol.org/UI/detalle.aspx?seccion=1&categserie=7&nivel=0&subnivel=0&id=10946&tabla=N FEF article on name change]