Bid to restore Minella Stadium pristine sheen

Article posted by Coliseum, August 30^th, 2024

Image: Municipalite de Mar del Plata

Few stadia in Argentina can arouse intense feelings among the fans which the José María Minella Stadium in the City of Mar del Plata did when the World Cup matches were held in the year 1978. The fan chants, the stadium ambience is totally matchless.

‘Clarín’ stated that Mar del Plata in Argentina leave lasting memories for the people who visit the City once. It is falling-in-love-at-first-sight City and belongs to everyone.

But, sadly, the Minella Stadium has fallen into a state of disrepair over the years and looking at the urgency of the situation the Mayor of General Pueyrredón Partido (Argentine division) Guillermo Montenegro recently announced in a presser that he has already sent a Bill to the City Council to float a public tender so that the private parties can come forward to totally refurbish the stadium.

The total transformation price tag of the venue will stand between 20 and 30 million dollars and plans have been drawn up to make it a totally covered venue expanding the stands.

The 35,180-capacity José María Minella Stadium is a venue in the City of Mar del Plata, Argentina. It is owned and administrated by the Municipality of General Pueyrredón in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Inaugurated for the 1978 FIFA World Cup™ which was hosted by Argentina, the stadium is currently used by the local clubs – Club Atlético Alvarado and the Club Atlético Aldosivi who plays their home matches in the arena.

Opened in 1978 to host six World Cup matches, the Minella Stadium is named after the former footballer from Mar del Plata, José María Minella, who played for the Argentine professional sports club River Plate (which plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top division of the Argentine football league system) ‘La Máquina’ in the ’40s and was Coach of the club which is based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires.

La Máquina (‘the Machine’) was a nickname given to the River Plate football team from 1941 to 1947, commonly referred to by the media as the best Argentine team of its era and one of the best teams worldwide.

The Club Atlético Alvarado is an Argentine football club from the City of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.

The Club Atlético Aldosivi (usually called simply Aldosivi) is an Argentine football club based in the City of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The senior squad currently plays in the Primera Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.

‘Clarín’ further stated that the above facility which was the venue for the 1978 World Cup and where the iconic Summer Tournaments were played, is presently in a dilapidated state and with the authorities concerned turning a Nelson’s eye the stadium is gradually going to the ruins. Several project proposals drawn up to totally transform the arena are gathering dust.

Unlike the other stadia in Argentina, such as those in the City of Mendoza, the City of Córdoba, or the City of Santiago del Estero, which are managed and financed by their provinces, the Minella Stadium is owned by the Municipality of General Pueyrredón. The good part is that since the stadium is owned by the Municipality it gives the club enough breathing space to take decisions on their own but the negative side is that the stadium operators are always hard-pressed financially and cannot maintain the facility to the desired levels.

The idea is that this tender, which can be of “national or international” nature, will have to be approved by the Argentine Football Association (AFA – the governing body of football in Argentina) to ensure that the Argentina national football team fixtures are held in the venue from time to time. The national football team has not played in the stadium since the year 2011. The venue, once redone, will have to be in a position to hold multifarious activities and major music acts.

Emphasized Montenegro, “We do not want the stadium to turn into a white elephant. I do not want to use public funds to revamp the venue and only the private investors will be able to pick up the makeover tab.”

Montenegro has already held meetings on upgrading the Minella Stadium with the AFA and other interested parties.

Added Montenegro, “The redecorated Minella Stadium will have to hold events in frequent intervals so that it generates jobs for the people of Mar del Plata. The reconfigured structure will also give a shot in the arm to the economic scenario of the region.”

It is nigh impossible for the Municipality to bear the huge redevelopment expenses of the facility so the Mayor is seeking the help of the private investors.

Stadium Deets

‘bafilma.gba.gob.ar’ stated that presently half of the seats of the Minella Stadium is lodged in a covered area and the remaining half in an uncovered area.

When the stadium was in a robust condition it has held numerous sporting events and international concerts.

‘bafilma.gba.gob.ar’ further stated that the Minella Stadium’s parking area can presently accommodate 250 vehicles and boasts a cafeteria, two lounges, a press room, a conference room, a microcinema hall, two gyms, seven dressing rooms, offices, workshops, storage rooms, VIP Boxes, and audio and TV rooms.

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