Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes

Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes
Former names	Estadio Olímpico de 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
Renovated	2011-2012
Tenants
	Club Atlético Belgrano; Argentina national football team (some games)

The Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes,^[1] 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, with a 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. Generally, this stadium is used for Talleres' matches, but sometimes is used for the Belgrano's, Instituto's and Racing's matches. Also, the Argentina national football team home matches have been played here.

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. This picture was taken before remodeling.

During 2010 and 2011 the stadium went through a remodelling process, the field was sunken 4 meters, new bleachers were built in order to improve the poor view caused by the shallow shape of the stadium and the capacity was increased to 57,000, becoming the second largest stadium in Argentina by seating capacity. It was re-opened on June 26th, 2011, just 5 days before the start of the 2011 Copa America. The stands were fully covered after the cup.

In October, 2010 the name was changed to honor Mario Kempes, top goal scorer of the 1978 FIFA World Cup, native of Cordoba.

Sporting events

During the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Cordoba hosted two Group 2 matches, three Group 4 matches and three more during second round.

Date	Round	Group	Team 1	Vs.	Team 2
June 3	1	4	Peru	3–1	Scotland
June 6	1	2	West Germany	6–0	Mexico
June 7	1	4	Scotland	1–1	Iran
June 10	1	2	West Germany	0–0	Tunisia
June 11	1	4	Peru	4–1	Iran
June 14	2	A	Netherlands	5–1	Austria
June 18	2	A	West Germany	2–2	Netherlands
June 21	2	A	Austria	3–2	West Germany

Mario Kempes Stadium also hosted three Group B matches and a semifinal during the 1987 Copa America; five group stage matches, two matches during round of 16, one more for quarter finals and a semi final for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship; and for the 2011 Copa America Cordoba was venue for two Group B, one Group A matches and held a quarter final. Argentina national rugby union team, Los Pumas, has played several test matches here and the Cordoba Rugby Union has used the stadium for defining instances of its annual championship.

The 1982 World Boxing Association world Super-Bantamweight title fight between champion Sergio Palma and former WBA world Bantamweight champion Jorge Lujan, won by Palma on a fifteen round unanimous decision, was held at this stadium.^[2]

Facilities

The Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium is the center of a 40 hectares park and sports complex that includes the Soledad García Provincial Field Hockey Stadium, opened in 2012,^[3] that honors the two times world champion Soledad García; an Olympic-size swimming pool, opened in 2014 and named after the olympic medallist Georgina Bardach;^[4] an auxiliar field, located north of the main stadium, that hosts training and smaller football and rugby events; a BMX circuit, a running track, and basketball, volleyball and tennis facilities.^[5]

Concerts

Country	Artist	Year
USA	Gloria Gaynor	1978
MEX	Luis Miguel	1982
ARG	Sumo	1986 / 1987 / 1988
ARG	Soda Stereo	1987 / 1990 / 1991 / 2007
SWE	Roxette	1992
ARG	Serú Girán	1992
BRA	Xuxa	1992
UK	Peter Gabriel	1993
USA	Bon Jovi	1993
USA	Aerosmith	1994
Puerto Rico	Ricky Martin	1995
ESP	Alejandro Sanz	2001
ARG	Los Redondos	2001
ARG	La Renga	2003 / 2008
ARG	Callejeros	2006
ESP	Joaquín Sabina y Joan Manuel Serrat	2007
ARG	Los Fabulosos Cadillacs	2008
MEX	Maná	2007 / 2011
Guatemala	Ricardo Arjona	2009 / 2012 / 2014
Venezuela	Ricardo Montaner	2010
Puerto Rico	Calle 13	2011
Colombia	Shakira	2011
USA	Madonna	2012 / 2016
URU	No Te Va Gustar	2013
Canada	Justin Bieber	2013
USA	Romeo Santos	2015
UK	Iron Maiden	2016
USA	Taylor Swift	2016