Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes

Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes

Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras
Full name	Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes
Former names	Estadio Córdoba
Location	Chateau Carreras district, Córdoba, Argentina
Owner	Córdoba Province
Capacity	57,000
Field size	105 x 70 m
Surface	grass
Construction
Built	1976–1978
Opened	May 16, 1978
Tenants
Belgrano , Instituto, Talleres

The Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, formerly known as Estadio Córdoba and popularly Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, is a stadium in the Chateau Carreras neighborhood of Córdoba, Argentina.

The stadium was built in 1976 in preparation for the 1978 World Cup. It has capacity for 46,083 spectators although it doesn't provide seating for all of them, like many Argentine stadiums.

Most football teams in Córdoba have their own stadiums but they usually prefer playing in this stadium for its size and comfort, especially when playing important games that attract big crowds.

The stadium, in 2006 and 2007, hosted some Special Stages of motorsport event named Rally Argentina, a round of the World Rally Championship.

The stadium during a game played between Argentina and Ghana in 2009.

In the not too distant future, there are plans to remodel the arena, which has not undergone major changes since its construction and is a victim of constant complaints about the poor viewing quality from the stands. Many stadiums as River Plate's El Monumental allow excellent views of sporting events due to the steepness of the stands and the elevation of the field of play. However, the shape of the "Chateau " is similar to that of a shallow bowl so that, coupled with the distance to the field , offers a poor view of the playing surface . Some seats in the stadium offer particularly poor viewing experience , up to 80 metres from the playing surface .

The government of the Province of Córdoba, plans to sink the field 4 meters , to build new ringside bleachers and add new seating. The stadium's capacity would then reach 57,000 .

Further work includes dismantling the track surrounding the pitch and upgrades to access , lighting and health services .

Another objective of this reorganization is that the Seleccion Argentina de Football would play World Cup qualifiers at the stadium, rather than Buenos Aires.

Remodelling

The stadium is currently being refurbished for the 2011 Copa America tournament to be held in Argentina. The stadium capacity has increased to 57,000 people, with the inclusion of a tray on the pit uncovered. The stadium is also being upgraded and refurbished inside and out with the latest technology. Once the remodelling is finished, the stadium will be the second-largest in the country by seating capacity, and one of the most modern. On October 6, 2010, the stadium was to be renamed as Mario Alberto Kempes, after the famous Argentinian football player, who scored the first two goals against the Netherlands in the 1978 FIFA World Cup Final and the first goal in this stadium.

See also

Media related to Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras at Wikimedia Commons

• List of association football stadiums by capacity