Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha

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Monumental Banco Pichincha
El Coloso del Salado
Aereal View of the "El Coloso del Salado"
Location	Guayaquil, Ecuador
Built	1987
Opened	December 27, 1987
Renovated	June 17, 1994
Owner	Barcelona Sporting Club
Operator	Barcelona Sporting Club
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	$ 70,000,000.00
Architect	Miguel Angel Valarezo Tumbaco
Former names	Monumental de Barcelona, Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo
Tenants	Barcelona S.C.
Capacity	89,930
Field dimensions	105 x 70 meters

The Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha (Estadio Monumental de Barcelona, Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo before its renaming in 1997 and 2008) is a football stadium located in the parish of Tarqui in the north of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The stadium is the home to an Ecuadorian football club Barcelona Sporting Club.

[edit] History

The Monumental was born from the initiative of its President Isidro Romero Carbo. He wanted Barcelona to have its own stadium because Barcelona used to play its home games at the Estadio Modelo Alberto Spencer Herrera.

It was inaugurated on December 27, 1987, and Barcelona's first game was against Barcelona FC which Barcelona SC won 1-0. Barcelona SC invited tons of South American Football Celebrities including Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé) who was astonished. In addition, he compared the stadium to its majesty, the Maracanã. Pele said

“

Si Maracaná é estadio mais grande do mundo, Monumental é uno de los más belios do mundo.

”

Pelé and his phrase have a Golden Plaque inside the stadium.

The Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo has a capacity of 89,930 spectators, making it the second largest stadium in South America. 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 metres long and 70 metres wide. The training field near the stadium is called Alternate Field Sigfredo Agapito Chuchuca in honor of one of the greatest midfielders in the history of Barcelona SC.

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. The legal name will remain as Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo.