Arequipa Stadium

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Estadio Arequipa
nickname = Estadio Monumental de la UNSA


fullname = Estadio Arequipa
location = Arequipa, Peru
coordinates =
broke_ground =
built =
opened = 1990
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner = Universidad Nacional San Augustín
operator =
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
structural engineer =
services engineer =
general_contractor=
project_manager =
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former_names =
tenants =Atlético Universidad
seating_capacity =40,217
dimensions =

Arequipa Stadium, or UNSA Stadium, is a stadium located in the Peruvian city of Arequipa. Founded in 1990 with a capacity of 40,217 spectators, the stadium belongs to the local state University of San Agustín. Due to its size, it is nicknamed the Estadio Monumental UNSA. It is currently the home venue of local football team Atlético Universidad and sometimes used by FBC Melgar. The first match played in this stadium was on July 1995 between FBC Melgar and Alianza Lima.

Early efforts to gather funds were largely organized by the university, which organized a fund-raiser by giving volunteering students lottery tickets to sell throughout the city. The prizes consisted of apartments near the new stadium. The construction of the new stadium was taken as a pride-issue by Arequipa's inhabitants since it was the biggest Peruvian stadium at the time.

In 2004, thanks to a 5-million dollar government investment program to remodel older Peruvian stadiums, including last-minute modifications to the UNSA stadium, spectators were able to enjoy the games with the highest standards as imposed by CONMEBOL for the Copa América 2004 soccer tournaments. In return, the country received throngs of tourists, international media coverage, and more locals buying tickets to attend the games. The Copa América 2004 Group C games were hosted in this stadium. The Copa America has been held in Peru on five different occasions - in 1927, 1935, 1939, 1953 and 1957. On each occasion, however, all the games were mainly played in Lima's Estadio Nacional. Unlike previous occasions, Copa América 2004 games were decentralized and played in key Peruvian cities whose stadiums qualified for the event.

ee also

* Peru national football team
* List of Peruvian Stadiums

External links

* [http://fpf.org.pe/ Peruvian Soccer Federation] (in Spanish)