Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys

Olímpic Lluís Companys
Full name	Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Former names	Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc
Location	Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Built	1927
Renovated	1989
Architect	Pere Domènech i Roura
Capacity	55,926
Tenants
1992 Summer Olympics Míting Internacional d´Atletisme Ciutat de Barcelona American Bowl (1993; 1994) Barcelona Dragons (1991-92; 1995-2003) RCD Espanyol (1997-2009)

Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Catalan pronunciation: [əsˈtaði uˈɫimpig ʎuˈis kumˈpaɲs], formerly known as the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc or Barcelona Olympic Stadium) is a stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city (and Barcelona's bid for the 1936 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Berlin), it was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics.^[1] The stadium has a capacity of 55,926 (67,007 during the 1992 Olympics), and is located in the Anella Olímpica, in Montjuïc, a large hill to the southwest of the city which overlooks the harbour.

In 2001 the stadium was renamed after the former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya Lluís Companys i Jover, who was executed at the nearby Montjuïc Castle in 1940 by the Franco regime.

History

The stadium, designed by architect Pere Domènech i Roura for the 1929 Expo, was meant to host the People's Olympiad in 1936, a protest event against the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, but the event had to be cancelled due the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

In the fifties, the stadium was the centerpiece of the 1955 Mediterranean Games, and in 1957 it hosted the only national football cup final between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, the two local clubs.

In the seventies the stadium was disused, and the stands deteriorated. When the Spanish Grand Prix and other races were held at the Montjuïc racing circuit, the stadium was used as a paddock for the teams. Due to safety concerns, the 1975 F1 race was nearly boycotted by drivers.

Due to the award of the 1992 Summer Olympics to Barcelona, the stadium was renovated with the involvement of Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti. The stadium was gutted, preserving only the original facades, and new grandstands were built. In 1989 the venue was reinaugurated for the World Cup in Athletics, and three years later it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics competitions of the Olympic Games.^[2]

The stadium served as the home of football club RCD Espanyol from 1997 until 2009. The Estadi Olímpic made its final La Liga appearance during the 2008-2009 season, as Espanyol moved to the newly constructed Estadi Cornellà-El Prat.

It also served as the home of the Barcelona Dragons American Football team until 2003. Because the size of the playing surface was slightly shorter than the regulation American Football length, the stadium only had 7-yard end zones, three yards shorter than regulation NFL size.

The stadium also played host to the NFL's American Bowl in 1993 and in 1994. The San Francisco 49ers played the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 1, 1993. The second game was played on July 31, 1994 between the Los Angeles Raiders and the Denver Broncos.

The stadium has since 1990 hosted the Míting Internacional d´Atletisme Ciutat de Barcelona an annual track and field meeting.

In 2010, the stadium hosted the 20th European Athletics Championships.

The Olympic Stadium after the 2010 remodeling for the European Athletics Championships.

Sport events

• 1929: Montjuïc hosted Spain's first official rugby international game against Italy.^[3] Spain won 9-0.^[3]
• 1930: Copa del Rey final between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid.
• 1933: National football cup final between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid.
• 1934: National football cup final between Valencia CF and Real Madrid.
• 1935: Boxing match Paolino Uzcudun vs. Max Schmeling
• 1939: National football cup final between Sevilla FC and Racing de Ferrol.
• 1944: National football cup final between Athletic Bilbao and Valencia CF.
• 1945: National football cup final between Sevilla FC and Racing de Ferrol.
• 1946: National football cup final between Real Madrid and Valencia CF.
• 1955: II Mediterranean Games.
• 1957: National football cup final between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol.
• 1989: IAAF World Cup.
• 1992: Games of the XXV Olympiad.
• 1997: World Bowl V between Barcelona Dragons and Rhein Fire.
• 1999: The stadium hosted the Euro 2000 qualifying match between Andorra and then world champions France on 9 June 1999.
• 2003: World Police and Fire Games.
• 2004: Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Real Zaragoza.
• 2007-2008: The stadium hosted the Euro 2008 qualifying match between Andorra and England on the 28 March 2007 and also the same fixture on 6 September 2008 for the 2010 World Cup qualifying match.
• 2009: On Saturday 20 June the Perpignan-based rugby league team, Catalans Dragons lost 12-24 to Warrington Wolves in the first Super League match to be played in Spain, drawing a crowd of over 18,500.
• 2010: 20th European Athletics Championships.
• 2011: 2010–11 Heineken Cup quarter-final match between Perpignan and Toulon with a crowd of 55.000.

Concerts

The stadium has hosted concerts by many famous artists, including AC/DC, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Coldplay, Deftones, Fiction Plane, Guns 'N Roses, Michael Jackson, Jean Michel Jarre, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Madonna, Shakira, Metallica, Mudvayne, Pink Floyd, The Police, Prince & The New Power Generation, RBD, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, Sting, Tina Turner, U2 and Van Halen, among others.

Musical events

• 1990 (13 June 14): Concerts The Rolling Stones in the framework of his tour "Urban Jungle Tour"
• 1990 (July 25): Concert of Prince in the framework of his tour "Nude Tour", before some 30,000 spectators
• 1990 (August 1): Concert Madonna in the framework of his tour "Blond Ambition Tour" before more than 60,000
• 1990 (September 16): Concert by David Bowie, as part of his tour "Sound + Vision Tour" before some 30,000 spectators
• 1990 (October 6 - 7): Concert of Tina Turner, performed two night as part of her Foreign Affair World Tour 1990
• 1991 (September 24): Concert AC/DC Metallica Tesla and Legion in the framework of festival "Monsters of Rock", before some 45,000 spectators
• 1992 (September 18): Concert by Michael Jackson in the framework of his tour "Dangerous Tour." Gather to 47,000 spectators
• 1993 (May 11): Concert by Bruce Springsteen as part of the tour "Human Touch"
• 1993 (July 5): Concert Guns N' Roses
• 1993 (October 6): Concert by Jean Michel Jarre
• 1995 (June 13): Concert Bon Jovi with The Pretenders and Van Halen, with 30,000 people
• 1997 (September 13): Concert U2 in the framework of his tour "Pop Mart"
• 1998 Concert The Rolling Stones in the framework of his tour "Bridges to Babylon"
• 2003 (May 17): Concert by Bruce Springsteen as part of the tour "The Rising Tour"
• 2003 (June 29): Concert The Rolling Stones as part of her "Licks Tour 2002/2003" They also acted "The Pretenders", as openers. 50,000 people attended.
• 2007 (June 21): Concert The Rolling Stones in the framework of his tour "A Bigger Bang," after canceling the previous year, to 50,000
• 2007 (June 30): RBD concert in her "Celestial World Tour 2007" to more than 57,000 people
• 2007 (September 27): Concert The Police before 55,000 spectators
• 2008 (June 1): Concert Bon Jovi as part of her "Lost Highway Tour" to more than 45,000 people
• 2009 (June 7): Concert AC/DC. within the framework of his tour Black Ice Tour before some 62,000 spectators^[4]
• 2009 (July 21): Concert Madonna in the second part of his tour Sticky and Sweet Tour to more than 45,000 spectators^[5]
• 2009 (September 4): Concert Coldplay on tour Viva la Vida Tour to more than 63,000 spectators
• 2009 (December 3): Concert The Prodigy promoting their latest studio album Invaders Must Die
• 2009 (December 4): Concert Marilyn Manson presenting his album The High End of Low
• 2011 (May 29): Concert Shakira on tour World Tour rising sun

References

1. ^ "Official Report of the XXV Games of the Olympiad Barcelona 1992; Volume II; p.127". http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1992/1992s2.pdf. 
2. ^ 1992 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. pp. 160-7.
3. ^ ^{a b} Richards, Huw A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2007, ISBN 9781845962555); Chapter 6, Gathering Storms, p129
4. ^ "AC / DC smashes Montjuïc". Elperiodico.com. http://elperiodico.com. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
5. ^ "The Queen of Pop - conquest Barcelona". Cope.es. http://www.cope.es/cultura/22-07-09--reina-pop-conquista-barcelona-70170-1. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 

External links

• Stadium featured on Blog (English)

Preceded by Seoul Olympic Stadium Seoul	Summer Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies (Olympic Stadium) 1992	Succeeded by Centennial Olympic Stadium Atlanta
Preceded by Seoul Olympic Stadium Seoul	Olympic Athletics competitions Main Venue 1992	Succeeded by Centennial Olympic Stadium Atlanta
Preceded by Ullevi Gothenburg	European Championships in Athletics Main Venue 2010	Succeeded by Olympiastadion Helsinki

Coordinates: 41°21′53.14″N 2°9′20.37″E / 41.3647611°N 2.1556583°E / 41.3647611; 2.1556583