UNSA Stadium (Arequipa)
The UNSA Stadium (Estadio Monumental de la UNSA, i.e. Monumental Stadium of the UNSA) is Arequipa's biggest stadium and one of the largest in Peru. The stadium belongs to the local state Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa. Founded in 1990, it is considered one of Peru's biggest and most modern stadiums, with a capacity of 60.000 spectators. It is the home venue of local soccer team Melgar, which had its previous home in the Estadio Melgar (20.000).
One remarkable aspect of the stadium is that spectators can see the classic view of El Misti volcano from the stadium's highest seating levels. The UNSA stadium hosted its first soccer game between Arequipa's local soccer team Melgar versus Alianza Lima in July 1995.
Thanks to a 5-million dollar government investment program to remodel older peruvian stadiums, including last-minute modifications to the UNSA stadium, spectators were able to enjoy the games with the highest standards as imposed by CONMEBOL for the Copa América 2004 soccer competitions. In return the country received throngs of tourists, international media coverage, and more locals buying tickets to attend the games. The 2004 Copa América Group A soccer games of the cup were hosted in this stadium. The Copa America has already been held in Peru on five different occasions – in 1927, 1935, 1939, 1953 and 1957. On each occasion, all the games were principally played in Lima's Estadio Nacional. For the Copa América 2004, however, all the games were decentralized and played in key Peruvian cities whose stadiums qualified for the event.
Peru's biggest stadium, Estadio Monumental "U", is located in Lima with a capacity of 80.093 and it is home to the Universitario de Deportes team, though it was not used for the Copa América 2004.
See also
External Links
- Peruvian Soccer Federation (in Spanish)