Estadio Benito Villamarín

Benito Villamarín
Full name	Estadio Benito Villamarín
Former names	Estadio de la Exposición (1929—1939) Estadio Municipal de Heliópolis (1939—1982) Estadio Benito Villamarín (1982—2000) Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera (2000—2010)
Location	Avenida Heliópolis, s/n 41012 Sevilla
Coordinates	37°21′23″N 5°58′53″W / 37.35639°N 5.98139°W / 37.35639; -5.98139Coordinates: 37°21′23″N 5°58′53″W / 37.35639°N 5.98139°W / 37.35639; -5.98139
Opened	1929
Renovated	1982, 2000
Owner	Real Betis
Operator	Real Betis
Architect	Antonio González Cordón Manuel López Ruiz
Capacity	52,745
Field dimensions	105 × 68 m (344 × 223 ft)
Tenants
Real Betis (1929—present)

The Estadio Benito Villamarín^[1] is a football stadium in Seville, Spain. It is the home stadium of Real Betis.

History

Sevilla Balompié, Real Betis Balompié precursor during the years 1907-1914, initially played in the Prado de San Sebastian. In 1920, they began to play in the field of Real Patronato Obrero, in the old El Porvenir neighbourhood. From March 17 of 1929, they started playing at the Stadium of Heliopolis. This was subsequently remodeled into the current stadium. The most important changes were: The construction of the North and South goal-stands in the year 1958. Subsequently, these North and South stands were rebuilt between 1971 and 1973. Tribune Building overhang from 1975 and founded in 1979. The Tribune of Preference was started in 1981 and construction of the 1st amphitheater tier was finished 1982 for the World Cup held at Spain on that same year. It was by then a stadium with a capacity of 45,000 spectators, 27,000 of them sitting. It hosted two matches of the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain and the famous 12-1 by Spain on Malta that qualified the Spanish team for the final phase of the Euro 1984.

Stadium Renovation

After UEFA regulations to bind all stages of the continent (which in European competitions) to have all locations seated, the Governing Body of Real Betis Balompié decide the bombing of the old Estadio Benito Villamarin and building a new stadium. Following a referendum of members, the new stadium was renamed in honor of its chairman, Manuel Ruiz de Loperra.

The old Benito Villamarin, had capacity for 45.500 spectators, of whom 26,500 were standing. After completion of the first two phases, it was expected to have for the start of the 1998-99 season a seating capacity of 32,700 seats, of which only 6250 would be without seats.

These localities without a seat corresponding to the Southern Tier Gol, thanks to a moratorium given at the last minute, allowed to maintain such standing room without having to make any reform, which would be absurd since this forum was intended to demolish it when the season had just 1998-99 to go on with the works. After the 1998-1999 season was planned to overthrow the South Gol, so that it can be completed at the beginning of the 1999-2000 season.

After the 1999-2000 season will throw the Platform of Choice.

Later it would begin to build the new degree of preference, to have it completed by the beginning of the 2000-2001 season. In that summer of 2000 is planned to complete the work by placing the cover covering the whole stadium except the pitch to be used as a giant crane that will help tighten it using the stadium itself as an anchor .

In the 2nd league match, played on September 12, 1998 against Real Zaragoza, were inaugurated in part the new bleachers and Gol Norte Fund. Specifically, the Lower Tiers of Gol North and Fund as well as Prime Amphitheater Gol Norte. Betis already available for that game than 40,000 locations, yet they were no tickets on sale to ensure that all partners had access to the meeting. View the works of the stadium on 4-Sep-98

Subsequently, on September 27, 1998, and on the 4th day of the League before the Extremadura, was inaugurated the 1st Amphitheater Fund, so the capacity was set at 45,000 locations, pending the conclusion of the 2nd ring Gol North and Fund, thus ensuring the 52,700 locations planned for the season 98-99.

On February 17, 1999, Betis made public the agreement reached with the construction company Dragados y Construcciones, to resume the work left by Agromán. Be responsible for undertaking the completion of the two rings already built Gol North and Fund, which are not finalized.

These works include all finishes, including access to the countryside and urbanization in the border areas, seating, VIP boxes, shopping malls, parking and more. Also lifted the porches of the third ring, both North and Goal of the Fund, to be finished the following season. Stadium Opening

On January 1, 2000 Lopera officially opened the first half of the New Stadium. Specifically, the 3 rings complete the North Stand and "Fondo" stand. To this end, and his followers organized a special event, which was officially the new name of the stadium, "Manuel Ruiz de Lopera", that was elected at the start of the 1998-99 season by season ticket- holders.

After a first part of lectures and reviews, there is now an angel blessing by Martin Sarmiento, Chaplain of Betis, and then a fireworks extravaganza. The event was attended by a crowd of politicians representing the city.

Situation

The stadium is in a very narrow plot, with different levels of elevation between the background area (Avenida de la Palmera) and Preference (street Ifni). Therefore it is decided to maintain the previous level the playing field according to the situation of lower elevation.

The main feature of the stadium is its unique role of football, and the small size of the plot, and the ultimate capacity of 64,000 spectators would have been the largest stadium in Andalusia. As a whole, the stadium was projected as the fourth in lenghth and capacity in Spain and one of the most modern ones in Europe. The atmosphere, the structures, the breadth and comfort are big factors for the thrill and watching football, however the renovation has suffered a series of delays and half of the old stadium still remains in place after more than twelve years .

Stadium Stories

The Benito Villamarín Stadium has a total of 4 levels, a parking, grandstands and 3 overlap, the last of inclination more than notable.

Level N-1: Parking General parking is planned Public parking is club with separate entrances and exits and the availability of accessible buses Football teams to the locker room area.

Complete with areas of Communication, Radio and TV for press conferences. Under the Presidency, Management Areas, a museum, an auditorium for 300 people, shops, cafes, clubs, library and chapel.

Level N: Access and Lower Tier Generalize the entrances to the stadium becoming Gallery General Distribution in a pedestrian lane on one side open where the shops are arranged and the other stair access to each level of the grandstand. This idea gets to expand the limited widths available steely exterior circulation routes making them suitable for the pedestrian flow of the Stadium.

Access to Tier Level 0 is established through a gallery of high-altitude distribution from this grandstand, getting a full picture of the Field of Play in the circulation that occur.

Level N +1: 1er Middle Tier amphitheater Outlets to grandstand at an intermediate level, uniform in their arrangement (except for the Platform of Choice). At this level lies the Presidential Box and VIP boxes 1. Each box has a bar and toilets.

At the end of the grandstand are projected (surrounding the perimeter of the bleachers) the boxes VIPS 2, becoming the Area Presidency in September of Radio and TV for sports broadcasts.

Attached to the Presidential Box was created under the grandstand units Stadium nobles proposing a vision of the field from the living areas and restaurant.

Level N +1: 2nd Tier Added amphitheater Also arranged at an intermediate level corresponding outlets. Be provided fully dimensioned seats with vandal-resistant materials for visitors most passionate fans.

Authors of the draft

• Architect: Antonio González Cordón
• Collaborating Architects: Fermín Gómez and Tomas Garrido
• Technical Architect: Manuel López Ruiz
• Site Management: Fernando Medina

Construction

For "unknown" reasons, Lopera decided to stop the construction of the new stadium leaving the west and south sections untouched, old and ruined. However, during a press conference on September 8, 2006, Lopera stated that he intended to knock down the south section of the stadium, thus enhancing the capacity to "65,000 or 70,000".

References

1. ^ Ruiz, Bernardo (16 October 2010). "Los abonados deciden restaurar el nombre de Benito Villamarín". Elcorreoweb.es. http://www.elcorreoweb.es/deportes/betis/105959/abonados/deciden/restaurar/nombre/benito/villamarin. Retrieved 24 October 2010. 

External links

• (Spanish) Official Website Of Real Betis Balompié S.A.D.
• Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Stadium At World Stadiums.com
• Stadium history on Estadios de Espana
• (Spanish)Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Discusses Construction Of Stadium
• Future Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Stadium