River Plate, one of Argentina’s most famous and storied football clubs, will announce a new stadium redevelopment project at the end of next month.
The plans include the addition of a roof to the iconic Monumental stadium and an expansion of its capacity to 100,000 spectators. Crucially, the infrastructure project will not prevent the team from continuing to play home matches during the works.
The Más Monumental (as the venue is currently branded), already by some distance the largest stadium in Argentina, currently accommodates around 85,000 supporters for football matches. For concerts and other live events, capacity is usually reduced. An expanded capacity would increase ticket revenue and strengthen the club’s chances of hosting high-profile fixtures, concerts and large-scale shows.
The redevelopment forms part of a broader programme to modernise the ageing venue, improve the matchday experience for supporters and cement the Monumental’s status as one of the world’s most renowned sporting arenas, both in terms of capacity and facilities.
The centrepiece of the project is the roofing of the Monumental’s stands. Club officials say the move would protect spectators from adverse weather, improve acoustics and reinforce the stadium’s overall structure, although some critics have expressed concern that it would alter the venue’s iconic aerial profile.
According to club sources, a key element of the plan is the phased scheduling of the works, allowing the Millonario to continue using the stadium throughout the process. This would remove the need to relocate home matches or significantly disrupt the sporting calendar.
First opened in May 1938, the Monumental has undergone substantial upgrades in recent years, including work on the pitch, corporate boxes, and access points for supporters.
– TIMES/NA
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