Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona

It is also known popularly as the Estadio Único (One-of-a kind Stadium) and is owned by Buenos Aires Province, administered jointly by the provincial government, the Municipality of La Plata, and the football clubs Estudiantes de La Plata and Gimnasia y Esgrima de la Plata.

Estadio Único
Diego Armando Maradona

Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona
Estadio Único
Interior view of the stadium as seen in 2023.
Full name	Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona
Former names	Estadio Ciudad de La Plata
Location	Tolosa, La Plata, Argentina
Owner	Buenos Aires Province
Operator	Government of Buenos Aires Province
Capacity	53,000
Field size	105 x 70
Surface	Grass, GreenTech System
Construction
Built	1997–2003
Opened	June 7, 2003; 20 years ago (2003-06-07)
Renovated	2011
Construction cost	AR$100 million
Architect	Roberto Ferreira
Tenants
Estudiantes LP (2003–present) Gimnasia y Esgrima LP (2003–present) Argentina national football team (2003–present) Argentina national rugby team (2003–present)
Website
estadiolp.gba.gob.ar

Opened on June 7, 2003, the stadium was considered "the most modern of Latin America", even without having completed all of the planned construction. Its tenants include Estudiantes LP whose own stadium, the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, was declared unsafe in 2005, and Gimnasia y Esgrima LP. Gimnasia returned to their original stadium (Estadio Juan Carmelo Zerillo) in mid-2008.

It is located between 32nd and 526th avenues, 25 Street and 21. These fields also contain a small rugby union stadium and a center for Physical Education, which tend to be intercollegiate events with schools in the area, such as the school No. 31, better known as the Saint Martin Commercial.

Beginnings

 

The idea of the project began in 1947 when Governor Domingo Mercante expropriated the property located at the junction of Roads 32 and 25 and formed the La Plata Sports Complex.

In 1972, La Plata was to be a candidate to host matches in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The Government of Argentina called for project competitive bids to construct a "unique stadium" in the city. It would be built in a municipal land situated near Ringuelet train station, adding other lands to be expropriated. The government choose the project presented by Antonini-Schon-Zemborain, nevertheless it would never carried out.

In 1989, after a meeting between the Buenos Aires Province Government and the Municipality of La Plata's, Estudiantes and Gimnasia, created a committee to build and manage a complex dedicated entirely to the practice of football and other sports.

Thus, after reviewing several alternatives, the construction of the stadium was proposed to take place in the area of the Center for Physical Education No. 2. This determined as the most accessible area for a stadium in La Plata. In January 1992 it was signed into law 11118, which established the construction site.

Construction

On April 21, 1992, the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata Foundation was established, which was an institution composed equally of representatives from Estudiantes and Gimnasia. The College of Architects and Engineers held a meeting in April 1993 to choose an architectural proposal. It was awarded to Roberto Ferreira & Associates.

In 1996 a permit was given by the Executive Branch that awarded the provincial administration the right to begin construction the following year. The Executive Unit called for public tenders for the job.

A year later they began building the supports for the roof. And in 1998, the governor Eduardo Duhalde and the Mayor of La Plata, Julio Alak, laid the first stone to begin the construction of the stadium.

The works also detained foir trade union and economic problems in 2000, so ad with Eduardo Duhalde as President of the Nation, called for a new tender for the allocation of investment with a view to its installation in May 2003.

Opening and events

 

Interior view of Estadio Unico in December 2010

 

Aerial view of the stadium at night, 2014

The stadium opened on June 7, 2003. The stadium was temporarily closed to convert it into an all-seater stadium, and to install a new roof intended to cover all seats. Work had gone ahead of schedule and the roof was finished before the end of February. The stadium was officially reopened on February 17, 2011, and its first match was played six days later between Estudiantes and Deportes Tolima for the Group 7 of the 2011 Copa Libertadores.

The stadium has since become a significant venue for musicians on tour. Over 300,000 tickets to such events at the stadium were sold in 2011, ranking the La Plata Stadium fifth worldwide in performing events tickets sold.

After the death of Diego Maradona in November 2020, the stadium was named "Estadio Único Diego Maradona" to honor the legend. In the same way, one of its grandstands was named "Alejandro Sabella " to honor one of the most notable players from the city.

Friendly matches

The stadium has hosted at least two friendly matches featuring the national team.

Date	Time (UTC−03)	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Attend.	Notes
July 16, 2003	21:10	Argentina	2–2	Uruguay	40,000
June 7, 2014	14:45	Argentina	2–0	Slovenia	53,000

2011 Copa América

The stadium was confirmed as one of seven venues to host the 2011 Copa América in Argentina including the opening game. La Plata ended up hosting a total of six matches.

Date	Time (UTC−03)	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Round
July 1, 2011	21:45	Argentina	1–1	Bolivia	Group A
July 3, 2011	16:00	Brazil	0–0	Venezuela	Group B
July 12, 2011	21:45	Uruguay	1–0	Mexico	Group C
July 17, 2011	16:00	Brazil	0–0 (0–2 p.)	Paraguay	Quarterfinals
July 19, 2011	21:45	Peru	0–2	Uruguay	Semifinals
July 31, 2011	16:00	Peru	4–1	Venezuela	Third Place play-off

2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup

The stadium was confirmed as one of four venues to host the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup including the final.

Date	Time (UTC−03)	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Round	Attendance
May 21, 2023	15:00	Israel	1–2	Colombia	Group C	7,613
May 21, 2023	18:00	Senegal	0–1	Japan	Group C	8,625
May 22, 2023	15:00	England	1–0	Tunisia	Group E	2,765
May 22, 2023	18:00	Uruguay	4–0	Iraq	Group E	5,176
May 24, 2023	15:00	Senegal	1–1	Israel	Group C	2,078
May 24, 2023	18:00	Japan	1–2	Colombia	Group C	3,768
May 25, 2023	15:00	Uruguay	2–3	England	Group E	27,231
May 25, 2023	18:00	Iraq	0–3	Tunisia	Group E	8,021
May 27, 2023	15:00	Brazil	2–0	Nigeria	Group D	29,134
May 27, 2023	18:00	Colombia	1–1	Senegal	Group C
May 28, 2023	15:00	Iraq	0–0	England	Group E
May 28, 2023	18:00	Honduras	1–3	France	Group F
May 31, 2023	14:30	Brazil	4–1	Tunisia	Round of 16
May 31, 2023	18:00	England	1–2	Italy	Round of 16
Jun 8, 2023	14:30	Uruguay	1–0	Israel	Semi-finals
Jun 8, 2023	18:00	Italy	2–1	South Korea	Semi-finals
Jun 11, 2023	14:30	Israel	2–1	South Korea	Third place play-off
Jun 11, 2023	18:00	Uruguay	1–0	Italy	Final

The Rugby Championship

The stadium has also hosted a number of rugby matches between the Argentina and the New Zealand as part of The Rugby Championship, which Argentina joined in 2012.

Date	Time (UTC−03)	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Round	Attendance
September 29, 2012	20:10	Argentina	15–54	New Zealand	Round 5	53,000
September 28, 2013	19:40	Argentina	15–33	New Zealand	Round 5	40,207
September 27, 2014	19:10	Argentina	13–34	New Zealand	Round 5	37,000

• List of football stadiums in Argentina
• List of rugby union stadiums by capacity
• Lists of stadiums