Amoranto Sports Complex

{{Infobox sports complex

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| coordinates = {{Coord|14|37|47.6|N|121|01|23.8|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

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| address = Don A. Roces Ave, Diliman,

| city = Quezon City, Metro Manila,

| country = Philippines

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| main_venue =Main Stadium

| main_venue_capacity = 15,000

| other_facilities = Indoor arena, indoor sports facility, tennis courts, Olympic swimming pool, velodrome (formerly)

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| opened = {{Start date|1966}}

| renovated = 2022

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| cost = {{Philippine peso|2 million}}

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| tenants = Quezon City Galeries Taipan (MPBL) (2024–present)

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The Amoranto Sports Complex is located in Quezon City, Philippines.

History

The Amoranto Sports Complex was inaugurated in 1966 by then President Ferdinand Marcos. The facility was constructed at the cost of {{Philippine peso|2 million}} on a government owned site on Roces Avenue. The facility then consisted of a grandstand, an eight lane track and field oval, bleachers and a gymnasium.{{cite journal|title=The Amoranto Stadium|journal=The Quezonian|issue=Special|url=http://www.qcpubliclibrary.org/qcmanuscript.php#amoranto_stadium|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083509/http://www.qcpubliclibrary.org/qcmanuscript.php#amoranto_stadium|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}

The sports complex fell into disuse in the 2010s with its last competition being the 2013 POC-PSC Philippine National Games. Filipino national cyclists resided inside the complex until 2017 but seldom used the complex's dilapidated velodrome. There are plans to renovate the venue since 2016. The velodrome's specification has fallen behind international standards and it was proposed that a new velodrome be built.{{cite news |last1=Atencio |first1=Peter |title=POC chief wants new velodrome for athletes |url=https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/362526 |access-date=3 October 2021 |work=Manila Standard |date=16 August 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Atencio |first1=Peter |title=NSA's plan to build new velodrome gains traction |url=https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/302214 |access-date=3 October 2021 |work=Manila Standard |date=12 August 2019 |language=en}} But the plan was scrapped with Quezon City agreeing to donate funds to build a velodrome elsewhere.{{cite news |last1=Atencio |first1=Peter |title=Plans to construct new velodrome gain traction |url=https://manilastandard.net/?p=314352244 |access-date=12 June 2025 |work=Manila Standard |date=21 July 2023}}

In 2022, renovation plans for the sports complex was publicized. It includes the construction of the 3,500-seater Amoranto Arena, and a 10-lane Olympic-size swimming pool. It also includes the implementation of a tennis area for the Amoranto Indoor Sports Facility.{{cite news |last1=Mateo |first1=Janvic |title=Amoranto Sports Complex undergoes renovation |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/04/22/2175854/amoranto-sports-complex-undergoes-renovation |access-date=23 April 2022 |work=The Philippine Star |date=22 April 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Jordan |first1=Angelic |title=Belmonte: Decades-old Amoranto Sport Complex to undergo makeover |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1586235/belmonte-decades-old-amoranto-sport-complex-to-undergo-makeover |access-date=23 April 2022 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=21 April 2022 |language=en}} In January 2023, the venue was declared fit to host international tournaments.{{cite news |last1=Moaje |first1=Marita |title=QC's Amoranto sports complex now ready for int'l events |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192717 |access-date=13 January 2023 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=13 January 2023}} In 2024, Amoranto Arena is used as the primary home venue of the Quezon City Toda Aksyon of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

Facilities

File:Amoranto Sports Complex swimming pool.jpg

The Amoranto Sports Complex covers land measuring about {{convert|5.8|ha|acre}}. The main stadium has a capacity of 15,000. The sports facility was named after former Quezon City Mayor Norberto Amoranto.{{cite web|title=Sports and Fitness|url=http://quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php/lifestyle-in-city/sports-and-fitness|website=Quezon City Official Website|publisher=Quezon City Government|accessdate=1 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815113758/http://quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php/lifestyle-in-city/sports-and-fitness|archive-date=15 August 2016|url-status=dead}}

Several renovations have been done on the Amoranto Sports Complex since its opening. Currently, the sports facility features a tennis court, six badminton courts, a martial arts facility, a swimming pool,{{cite web|url=http://www.swimmersguide.com/Home/ViewFacility?facilityId=10999 |title=Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City, National Capital Region, PHILIPPINES |publisher=Swimmersguide.com |date= |accessdate=2016-08-22}} as well as a multipurpose gym, and a separate gym dedicated to boxing and weightlifting. The Amoranto Sports Complex also hosts a library for students.

The complex's velodrome{{cite news |last1=Navarro |first1=June |title=P1.5-billion velodrome for Filipino cyclists in the works |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/370939/p1-5-billion-velodrome-in-the-works |access-date=3 October 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=24 October 2019 |language=en}} hosted the cycling events for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.{{cite web|title=The 23rd SEA GAMES, Venues and Location|url=http://www.2005seagames.com.ph/venues.html|website=2005 Southeast Asian Games|accessdate=1 August 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318141106/http://www.2005seagames.com.ph/venues.html|archivedate=18 March 2006 }} The only known velodrome in the country has been demolished as of 2024 as the city government plans to replace the area with a different venue, while the opening of a replacement track cycling facility at a different location is still yet to be announced by the Philippine Sports Commission.{{cite news |last1=Atencio |first1= Peter | title=Plans to construct new velodrome gain traction |url=https://www.manilastandard.net/sports/314352244/plans-to-construct-new-velodrome-gain-traction.html |access-date=18 May 2024 |work=Manila Standard |date=21 July 2023 |language=en}}