Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona

{{Infobox venue

| name = Unique Diego Armando Maradona Stadium

| native_name = Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona

| nickname = Estadio Único

| logo_image =

| logo_size = 150

| image =

Estadio Único Ciudad de La Plata.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Exterior view of the stadium

| fullname = Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona

| former_names = Estadio Ciudad de La Plata

| city = Tolosa, La Plata

| country = Argentina

| coordinates =

| screens =

| currentuse = {{plainlist|

Football matches
Rugby union matches
Concerts

}}

| broke_ground =

| built = 1997–2003

| opened = {{start date and age|2003|6|7}}

| renovated = 2011

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = Buenos Aires Province

| operator = Government of Buenos Aires Province

| surface = Grass, GreenTech System

| scoreboard =

| construction_cost = AR$100 million

| architect = Roberto Ferreira

| project_manager =

| structural engineer =

| services engineer =

| general_contractor =

| main_contractors =

| capacity = 53,000

| record_attendance =

| dimensions = 105 x 70

| website = {{URL|https://www.estadiolp.gba.gob.ar/es/|estadiolp.gba.gob.ar}}

| tenants = {{plainlist|

Estudiantes LP (2003–present)
Gimnasia y Esgrima LP (2003–present)
Argentina national football team
(2003–present)
Argentina national rugby team (2003–present)

}}

The Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona ({{langx|en|Unique Diego Armando Maradona Stadium}}, formerly Estadio Ciudad de La Plata) is a multi-purpose stadium located in Tolosa, La Plata Partido, next to the city of La Plata, Argentina. It is also known popularly as the Estadio Único (One-of-a kind Stadium) and is owned by Buenos Aires Province, administered jointly by the provincial government, the Municipality of La Plata, and the football clubs Estudiantes de La Plata and Gimnasia y Esgrima de la Plata.

Opened on June 7, 2003, the stadium was considered "the most modern of Latin America",[https://web.archive.org/web/20110220044801/https://www.infobae.com/notas/561882-El-Unico-de-La-Plata-en-la-elite-de-los-estadios-del-planeta-futbol.html El Único de La Plata, en la elite de los estadios del planeta fútbol] on Infobae (archived, 17 Feb 2011)[https://web.archive.org/web/20110221073104/http://www.losandes.com.ar/notas/2011/2/17/todo-listo-para-reinauguracion-estadio-ciudad-plata-551340.asp Todo listo para la reinauguración del Estadio Ciudad de La Plata]. Los Andes, 17 Feb 2011 even without having completed all of the planned construction. Its tenants include Estudiantes LP whose own stadium, the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, was declared unsafe in 2005, and Gimnasia y Esgrima LP. Gimnasia returned to their original stadium (Estadio Juan Carmelo Zerillo) in mid-2008.

It is located between 32nd and 526th avenues, 25 Street and 21. These fields also contain a small rugby union stadium and a center for Physical Education, which tend to be intercollegiate events with schools in the area, such as the school No. 31, better known as the Saint Martin Commercial.

History

= Beginnings =

File:Afiche Concurso Estadio Único Sede Mundial 1978 - Diario El Día 1978.jpg

The idea of the project began in 1947 when Governor Domingo Mercante expropriated the property located at the junction of Roads 32 and 25 and formed the La Plata Sports Complex.

In 1972, La Plata was to be a candidate to host matches in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The Government of Argentina called for project competitive bids to construct a "unique stadium" in the city. It would be built in a municipal land situated near Ringuelet train station, adding other lands to be expropriated. The government choose the project presented by Antonini-Schon-Zemborain, nevertheless it would never carried out.[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/481195-divididos-por-una-cancha Divididos por una cancha] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316041236/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/481195-divididos-por-una-cancha |date=2016-03-16 }} by Jesús Cornejo on La Nación, 2003

In 1989, after a meeting between the Buenos Aires Province Government and the Municipality of La Plata's, Estudiantes and Gimnasia, created a committee to build and manage a complex dedicated entirely to the practice of football and other sports.

Thus, after reviewing several alternatives, the construction of the stadium was proposed to take place in the area of the Center for Physical Education No. 2. This determined as the most accessible area for a stadium in La Plata. In January 1992 it was signed into law 11118, which established the construction site.

= Construction =

On April 21, 1992, the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata Foundation was established, which was an institution composed equally of representatives from Estudiantes and Gimnasia. The College of Architects and Engineers held a meeting in April 1993 to choose an architectural proposal. It was awarded to Roberto Ferreira & Associates.

In 1996 a permit was given by the Executive Branch that awarded the provincial administration the right to begin construction the following year. The Executive Unit called for public tenders for the job.

A year later they began building the supports for the roof. And in 1998, the governor Eduardo Duhalde and the Mayor of La Plata, Julio Alak, laid the first stone to begin the construction of the stadium.

The works also detained foir trade union and economic problems in 2000, so ad with Eduardo Duhalde as President of the Nation, called for a new tender for the allocation of investment with a view to its installation in May 2003.

= Opening and events=

{{multiple image

|align =

|direction =

|total_width = 400

|image1 = Estadio único de la plata - diciembre de 2010.JPG

|caption1 = Interior view of Estadio Unico in December 2010

|image2 = Estadio Único Ciudad de La Plata.jpg

|caption2 = Aerial view of the stadium at night, 2014

}}

The stadium opened on June 7, 2003. The stadium was temporarily closed to convert it into an all-seater stadium, and to install a new roof intended to cover all seats. Work had gone ahead of schedule and the roof was finished before the end of February. The stadium was officially reopened on February 17, 2011, and its first match was played six days later between Estudiantes and Deportes Tolima for the Group 7 of the 2011 Copa Libertadores.

The stadium has since become a significant venue for musicians on tour. Over 300,000 tickets to such events at the stadium were sold in 2011, ranking the La Plata Stadium fifth worldwide in performing events tickets sold.{{cite news|url=http://www.ieco.clarin.com/economia/Plata-catedral-rock_0_674332850.html|title=La Plata: la otra catedral del rock|newspaper=Clarín}}

After the death of Diego Maradona in November 2020, the stadium was named "Estadio Único Diego Maradona" to honor the legend.[https://www.espn.com.ar/futbol/argentina/nota/_/id/7925805/el-estadio-unico-de-la-plata-se-llamara-diego-maradona Homenaje al 10: El Estadio Único de La Plata se llamará Diego Maradona] on ESPN, 18 Dec 2020 In the same way, one of its grandstands was named "Alejandro Sabella " to honor one of the most notable players from the city.[https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/el-estadio-unico-la-plata-se-llamara-nid2544776/ Maradona y una tribuna llevará el nombre de Alejandro Sabella] on La Nación, 18 Dec 2020

Events

= Friendly matches =

The stadium has hosted at least two friendly matches featuring the national team.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: ; width:70%;"
Date !Time (UTC−03) !Team 1 !Result !Team 2 !Attend. !Notes
July 16, 2003	21:10	{{fb\|ARG}}	{{center\|2–2}}	{{fb\|URU}}	40,000	[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arg-intres-bielsa.html Argentina - International Matches in Era Bielsa 1999-2004][https://www.espn.com.ar/futbol/reporte/_/juegoId/98671 Argentina 2-2 Uruguay] match summary on ESPN
June 7, 2014	14:45	{{fb\|ARG}}	{{center\|2–0}}	{{fb\|SVN}}	53,000	[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arg-intres-sabella.html Argentina - International Matches in Era Sabella 2011-2014][https://www.lavoz.com.ar/deportes/futbol/argentina-le-gano-eslovenia-en-el-ultimo-amistoso-rumbo-al-mundial/ Argentina le ganó a Eslovenia en el último amistoso rumbo al Mundial] on La Voz, 7 Jun 2014

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: ; width:70%;"

Date

!Time
(UTC−03)

!Team 1

!Result

!Team 2

!Attend.

!Notes

July 16, 2003

21:10

40,000

[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arg-intres-bielsa.html Argentina - International Matches in Era Bielsa 1999-2004][https://www.espn.com.ar/futbol/reporte/_/juegoId/98671 Argentina 2-2 Uruguay] match summary on ESPN

June 7, 2014

14:45

53,000

[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arg-intres-sabella.html Argentina - International Matches in Era Sabella 2011-2014][https://www.lavoz.com.ar/deportes/futbol/argentina-le-gano-eslovenia-en-el-ultimo-amistoso-rumbo-al-mundial/ Argentina le ganó a Eslovenia en el último amistoso rumbo al Mundial] on La Voz, 7 Jun 2014

= 2011 Copa América =

The stadium was confirmed as one of seven venues to host the 2011 Copa América in Argentina including the opening game. La Plata ended up hosting a total of six matches.

Date !Time (UTC−03) !Team 1 !Result !Team 2 !Round
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: ; width:80%;"
July 1, 2011	21:45	{{fb\|ARG}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–1	{{fb\|BOL}}	Group A
July 3, 2011	16:00	{{fb\|BRA}}	style="text-align:center;"\|0–0	{{fb\|VEN}}	Group B
July 12, 2011	21:45	{{fb\|URU}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–0	{{fb\|MEX}}	Group C
July 17, 2011	16:00	{{fb\|BRA}}	style="text-align:center;"\|0–0 (0–2 p.)	{{fb\|PAR}}	Quarterfinals
July 19, 2011	21:45	{{fb\|PER}}	style="text-align:center;"\|0–2	{{fb\|URU}}	Semifinals
July 31, 2011	16:00	{{fb\|PER}}	style="text-align:center;" \|4–1	{{fb\|VEN}}	Third Place play-off

= 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup =

The stadium was confirmed as one of four venues to host the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup including the final.

Date !Time (UTC−03) !Team 1 !Result !Team 2 !Round !Attendance
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: ; width:80%;"
May 21, 2023	15:00	{{fbu\|20\|ISR}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–2	{{fbu\|20\|COL}}	Group C	7,613
May 21, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|SEN}}	style="text-align:center;"\|0–1	{{fbu\|20\|JPN}}	Group C	8,625
May 22, 2023	15:00	{{fbu\|20\|ENG}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–0	{{fbu\|20\|TUN}}	Group E	2,765
May 22, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|URU}}	style="text-align:center;"\|4–0	{{fbu\|20\|IRQ}}	Group E	5,176
May 24, 2023	15:00	{{fbu\|20\|SEN}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–1	{{fbu\|20\|ISR}}	Group C	2,078
May 24, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|JAP}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–2	{{fbu\|20\|COL}}	Group C	3,768
May 25, 2023	15:00	{{fbu\|20\|URU}}	style="text-align:center;"\|2–3	{{fbu\|20\|ENG}}	Group E	27,231
May 25, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|IRQ}}	style="text-align:center;"\|0–3	{{fbu\|20\|TUN}}	Group E	8,021
May 27, 2023	15:00	{{fbu\|20\|BRA}}	style="text-align:center;"\|2–0	{{fbu\|20\|NGA}}	Group D	29,134
May 27, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|COL}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–1	{{fbu\|20\|SEN}}	Group C
May 28, 2023	15:00	{{fbu\|20\|IRQ}}	style="text-align:center;"\|0–0	{{fbu\|20\|ENG}}	Group E
May 28, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|HON}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–3	{{fbu\|20\|FRA}}	Group F
May 31, 2023	14:30	{{fbu\|20\|BRA}}	style="text-align:center;"\|4–1	{{fbu\|20\|TUN}}	Round of 16
May 31, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|ENG}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–2	{{fbu\|20\|ITA}}	Round of 16
Jun 8, 2023	14:30	{{fbu\|20\|URU}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–0	{{fbu\|20\|ISR}}	Semi-finals
Jun 8, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|ITA}}	style="text-align:center;"\|2–1	{{fbu\|20\|KOR}}	Semi-finals
Jun 11, 2023	14:30	{{fbu\|20\|ISR}}	style="text-align:center;"\|2–1	{{fbu\|20\|KOR}}	Third place play-off
Jun 11, 2023	18:00	{{fbu\|20\|URU}}	style="text-align:center;"\|1–0	{{fbu\|20\|ITA}}	Final

= The Rugby Championship =

The stadium has also hosted a number of rugby matches between the Argentina and the New Zealand as part of The Rugby Championship, which Argentina joined in 2012.

Date !Time (UTC−03) !Team 1 !Result !Team 2 !Round !Attendance
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:;" width="80%"
September 29, 2012	20:10	{{ru\|ARG}}	{{center\|15–54}}	{{ru\|NZL}}	Round 5	53,000
September 28, 2013	19:40	{{ru\|ARG}}	{{center\|15–33}}	{{ru\|NZL}}	Round 5	40,207
September 27, 2014	19:10	{{ru\|ARG}}	{{center\|13–34}}	{{ru\|NZL}}	Round 5	37,000

Panorama

{{panorama

|image = Estadio unico la plata panorama.jpg

|caption = {{center|Panorama of the stadium, taken in October 2012}}

|fullwidth = 2500

|fullheight =

|height = 300

}}

Concerts

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style= ;"
colspan=4\|Concerts at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata
Date	Artist	Tour	Attendance
6 March 2004	Joan Manuel Serrat[https://www.eldia.com/nota/2004-3-5-serrat-en-la-plata Serrat en La Plata] on El Dia, 5 March 2004	Serrat Sinfónico tour	7,000
27 Nov 2004	Los Piojos[https://www.lanacion.com.ar/espectaculos/los-piojos-despiden-2004-nid646785/ Los Piojos despiden el año] on Rolling Stone Argentina	Máquina de Sangre World Tour
13 Nov 2005	Indio Solari[https://www.rionegro.com.ar/el-rock-recupero-parte-de-su-convocatoria-en-el-2004-APHRN050102302706/ El rock recuperó parte de su convocatoria] on Rio Negro		45,000
30 March, 2 and 3 April 2011 \|align=left\|U2 \|U2 360° Tour \| 172,079
8 October 2011 \|align=left\|Guns N' Roses \|Chinese Democracy Tour \| 40,000 ±
28 October 2011 \|align=left\|Aerosmith \|Back On the Road Tour \| —
13 November 2011 \|align=left\|Pearl Jam \|Pearl Jam Twenty Tour \| —
20 November 2011 \|align=left\|Britney Spears \|Femme Fatale Tour \| 21,717
6 October 2013 \|align=left\|Black Sabbath \|13 Tour \| —
29 and 30 March 2014 \|align=left\|Metallica \|By Request Tour \| 76,407
18 January 2015 \|align=left\|Foo Fighters \|Sonic Highways World Tour \| 32,241
7 November 2015 \|align=left\|Pearl Jam \|Pearl Jam 2015 Latin America Tour \| —
7, 10 and 13 February 2016 \|align=left\|The Rolling Stones \|América Latina Olé Tour 2016 \| 155,184
31 March and 1 April 2016 \|align=left\|Coldplay \|A Head Full of Dreams Tour \| 97,069
17 and 19 May 2016 \|align=left\|Paul McCartney \|One On One Tour \| 97,721
8 October 2016 \|align=left\|Aerosmith \|Rock 'N' Roll Rumble Tour \| 31,097
20 May 2017 \|align=left\|Ed Sheeran \|÷ Tour \| 33,584
1 October 2017 \|align=left\|Guns N' Roses, The Who \|Not in This Lifetime... Tour \| 47,000
10, 11 October 2017 \|align=left\|U2 \|The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 \| 86,466
14 and 15 November 2017 \|align=left\|Coldplay \|A Head Full of Dreams Tour \| 98,197
25 November 2017 \|align=left\|Bruno Mars \|24K Magic World Tour \| 49,204
24 March 2018 \|align=left\|Depeche Mode \|Global Spirit Tour \| 47,214
6 and 10 November 2018 \|align=left\|Roger Waters \|Us + Them Tour \| 80,693
23 and 30 April, 7 May 2022 \|align=left\|La Renga \|Alejado de la Red \| —
10 December 2022 \|align=left\|Abel Pintos \| \| —
28 and 29 October 2023 \|align=left\|Tan Bionica \|La Ultima Noche Mágica \| —

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style= ;"

colspan=4|Concerts at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata

Date

Artist

Tour

Attendance

6 March 2004

Joan Manuel Serrat[https://www.eldia.com/nota/2004-3-5-serrat-en-la-plata Serrat en La Plata] on El Dia, 5 March 2004

Serrat Sinfónico tour

7,000

27 Nov 2004

Los Piojos[https://www.lanacion.com.ar/espectaculos/los-piojos-despiden-2004-nid646785/ Los Piojos despiden el año] on Rolling Stone Argentina

Máquina de Sangre World Tour

13 Nov 2005

Indio Solari[https://www.rionegro.com.ar/el-rock-recupero-parte-de-su-convocatoria-en-el-2004-APHRN050102302706/ El rock recuperó parte de su convocatoria] on Rio Negro

45,000

30 March, 2 and 3 April 2011

|align=left|U2

|U2 360° Tour

| 172,079

8 October 2011

|align=left|Guns N' Roses

|Chinese Democracy Tour

| 40,000 ±

28 October 2011

|align=left|Aerosmith

|Back On the Road Tour

| —

13 November 2011

|align=left|Pearl Jam

|Pearl Jam Twenty Tour

| —

20 November 2011

|align=left|Britney Spears

|Femme Fatale Tour

| 21,717

6 October 2013

|align=left|Black Sabbath

|13 Tour

| —

29 and 30 March 2014

|align=left|Metallica

|By Request Tour

| 76,407

18 January 2015

|align=left|Foo Fighters

|Sonic Highways World Tour

| 32,241

7 November 2015

|align=left|Pearl Jam

|Pearl Jam 2015 Latin America Tour

| —

7, 10 and 13 February 2016

|align=left|The Rolling Stones

|América Latina Olé Tour 2016

| 155,184

31 March and 1 April 2016

|align=left|Coldplay

|A Head Full of Dreams Tour

| 97,069

17 and 19 May 2016

|align=left|Paul McCartney

|One On One Tour

| 97,721

8 October 2016

|align=left|Aerosmith

|Rock 'N' Roll Rumble Tour

| 31,097

20 May 2017

|align=left|Ed Sheeran

|÷ Tour

| 33,584

1 October 2017

|align=left|Guns N' Roses, The Who

|Not in This Lifetime... Tour

| 47,000

10, 11 October 2017

|align=left|U2

|The Joshua Tree Tour 2017

| 86,466

14 and 15 November 2017

|align=left|Coldplay

|A Head Full of Dreams Tour

| 98,197

25 November 2017

|align=left|Bruno Mars

|24K Magic World Tour

| 49,204

24 March 2018

|align=left|Depeche Mode

|Global Spirit Tour

| 47,214

6 and 10 November 2018

|align=left|Roger Waters

|Us + Them Tour

| 80,693

23 and 30 April, 7 May 2022

|align=left|La Renga

|Alejado de la Red

| —

10 December 2022

|align=left|Abel Pintos

| —

28 and 29 October 2023

|align=left|Tan Bionica

|La Ultima Noche Mágica

| —

References

External links

{{official website}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151220105337/http://www.estadiolp.gba.gov.ar/ Official website] (archived, 20 Dec 2015)
[http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/south_america/argentina/la_plata_ciudad.shtml World Stadiums Article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618203158/http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/south_america/argentina/la_plata_ciudad.shtml |date=2018-06-18 }}
[http://www.stadiumguide.com/ciudaddelaplata/ Stadium Guide Article]

{{s-start|header={{s-sta|et}}}}

{{succession box

| title = Copa América
Venue

| before = various venues in
Venezuela

| after = various venues in
Chile

| years = 2011

}}

{{succession box

| title=FIFA U-20 World Cup

| before= (various venues in
Poland)

| after= TBD

| years=2023