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Estadio José María Minella

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José María Minella Stadium
Estadio José María Minella
BERJAYA
BERJAYA
View of the stadium in 2008
Map
Interactive map of José María Minella Stadium
Full name
Estadio José María Minella
AddressAv. de las Olimpíadas 760
Mar del Plata
Argentina
Coordinates38°01′05″S 57°34′56″W / 38.01806°S 57.58222°W / -38.01806; -57.58222
OwnerGeneral Pueyrredón Partido
OperatorMinella Stadium S.A.
Capacity35,180 [1]
SurfaceGrass
Field size
105 x 70 m
Construction
Built1975–1978 [2]
OpenedMay 21, 1978; 48 years ago (1978-05-21)
ArchitectsAntonini Schon Zemborain & Asoc.[3]
Tenants
Website
mardelplata.gob.ar/estadiominella

The Estadio José María Minella is a stadium in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina. Owned by the Municipality of General Pueyrredón, the venue is administered by Minella Stadium S.A. since August 2025.[6] Inaugurated for the 1978 FIFA World Cup hosted by Argentina, the stadium is currently used by local clubs Alvarado and Aldosivi to play their home matches.

The stadium is named after renowned football player and manager José María Minella, a native of Mar del Plata and regarded as one of the most notable footballers of that city.[2]

History

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Argentina was chosen as the host nation of the 1978 World Cup by FIFA in London, England on 6 July 1966, and Mar del Plata, as one of the most touristic cities in the country, was selected as a venue. The stadium has the distinction of being the southernmost stadium to host a World Cup match. The organizing committee, under supervision of the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina since 1976, decided to build a new stadium on the same spot where the Mar del Plata hippodrome had been located 40 years earlier. The construction began in 1975[2] and the stadium was opened on May 21, 1978, with a friendly match between a team formed by players from Mar del Plata and another one with players from Tandil.[1][2]

The sports journalist Mario Trucco proposed the name to honour José María Minella, a renowned former midfielder from Mar del Plata, who played during the 1930s and 1940s for River Plate and the Argentina national football team, and later River Plate manager from 1945 to 1959 in what became one of the team's most successful eras.

During the 1978 World Cup Mar del Plata hosted six Fifa World Cup matches, three Group 1 and three Group 3 matches.

As the city of Mar del Plata is a very important tourist destination and the biggest seaside beach resort in Argentina, since its construction this stadium has been the main host of the many annual Summer Tournaments. Prior to the construction of Minella stadium, the main venue of the city had been General San Martín Stadium, with capacity for 15,000 spectators. That venue used to host matches of local teams San Lorenzo, Kimberley and Aldosivi.[2]

In 1985 the stadium hosted the New Zealand rugby team that played at the stadium as part of their tour of Argentina. The national side beat Mar del Plata Rugby Union 56–6.[5] The All Blacks would return in 1991, also playing vs the Mar del Plata Union, beating them 48–6.[7][8]

On February 24, 1993, the stadium played host to the second, and final, Intercontinental Cup for Nations (known as the Artemio Franchi Trophy) between the then-defending South American football champions, Argentina, and reigning European champions, Denmark. The match ended 1–1 after extra time, but Argentina went on to win 5–4 on penalty shoot-out.[9]

From March 12 to March 26, 1995, Mar del Plata hosted the 12th Pan American Games,[10] and the José María Minella was venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the football tournament.[11]

In 2015, local club Aldosivi was promoted to the Primera División and has since used this stadium for its home matches, along with Alvarado, currently playing in Torneo Federal A.

On September 24, 2021, a week before the return of the public to football stadiums after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Municipal Sports and Recreation Entity disabled the covered stalls (with a capacity for 6,500 seated people). The entity claimed structural flaws and ordered the closure of the sector until a detailed report on its situation was presented.[3][12] As of 2023, the Estadio José Minella only hosts matches of local teams Aldosivi and Alvarado for competitions organised by AFA.[12]

In February 2023, the Municipality of General Pueyrredón began to evaluate future possibilities for the stadium so it requested a report from the National University of Mar del Plata for a technical evaluation of the state of the roofed grandstand. But that commitment –which would be carried out by the best engineers in the city– had a cost of AR$13 million so it was discarded. Apart from the roof, the lighting towers and the parking lots were also severely deteriorated.[12]

In 2025, the municipality of General Pueyrredón announced a call for bids in order to refurbish the deteriorated stadium, the "Islas Malvinas" sports complex, and other common places. In August 2025, it was announced that concession had been granted to "Minella Stadium S.A.", the only offeror company.[6] The proposal included an investment of USD40 million. The concessionary also took a commitment to hold 30–35 events at the stadium, and 50–60 events at the sports centre. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) would also take part in the agreement, using the stadium as venue for the Argentina national team.[13]

Facilities

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The José María Minella offers parking lots for 250 cars, a 590 m2 lounge and 245 m2 VIP area, conference room and two 550 m2 gyms. It is part of the "Teodoro Bronzini" Municipal Sports Park, a 35 hectares area with several sport venues, including the Polideportivo Islas Malvinas, the Julio Polet Municipal Velodrome, the Pan American Field Hockey Stadium, the "Alberto Zorrilla" Natatorium, the "Justo Roman" Athletic stadium and the Patinódromo Municipal.[1]

Sporting Events

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The stadium was built for the 1978 FIFA World Cup and during June 1978 it hosted six matches, three Group 1 matches and three Group 3 matches.

1978 FIFA World Cup

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BERJAYA
Aerial view of the stadium in 1978, when it was inaugurated to host the FIFA World Cup
Date Time (UTC−03) Group Team #1 Res. Team #2 Attendance
June 213:45 ARTGroup 1BERJAYA Italy
2–1
BERJAYA France42,373
June 316:45 ARTGroup 3BERJAYA Brazil
1–1
BERJAYA Sweden32,569
June 613:45 ARTGroup 1BERJAYA Italy
3–1
BERJAYA Hungary26,533
June 713:45 ARTGroup 3BERJAYA Brazil
0–0
BERJAYA Spain31,278
June 1014:30 ART[14]Group 1BERJAYA France
3–1
BERJAYA Hungary23,127
June 1113:45 ARTGroup 3BERJAYA Brazil
1–0
BERJAYA Austria35,221

2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup

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The stadium hosted all the matches of Group F

Date Group Team #1 Res. Team #2 Att.
18 JuneGroup FBERJAYA Ghana
2–1
BERJAYA Paraguay2,000
18 JuneGroup FBERJAYA Iran
0–5
BERJAYA France4,500
21 JuneGroup FBERJAYA France
2–2
BERJAYA Paraguay4,575
21 JuneGroup FBERJAYA Iran
0–1
BERJAYA Ghana4,500
24 JuneGroup FBERJAYA Ghana
0–0
BERJAYA France13,000
24 JuneGroup FBERJAYA Paraguay
2–0
BERJAYA Iran6,000
24 JuneRound of 16BERJAYA Ghana
1–0
BERJAYA Ecuador11,000

Argentina national football team matches

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Date Event Rival Res. Attendance
Mar 9, 1982FriendlyBERJAYA Czechoslovakia0–0?
Feb 24, 1993Artemio Franchi TrophyBERJAYA Denmark1–1 (5–4 p)40,000
Dec 28, 1996FriendlyBERJAYA FR Yugoslavia2–319,600
Feb 24, 1998FriendlyBERJAYA FR Yugoslavia3–135,000
Feb 10, 2010FriendlyBERJAYA Jamaica2–1?
Apr 20, 2011FriendlyBERJAYA Ecuador2–1?

Rugby union

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The stadium has hosted several rugby union matches, such as follows:

Date Event Home team Score Away team Ref.
29 Oct 1985New Zealand tourMar del Plata RU
6–56
BERJAYA New Zealand[5]
8 Jun 1989Italy tourMar del Plata RU
9–26
BERJAYA Italy[15]
9 Jul 1991New Zealand tourMar del Plata RU
6–48
BERJAYA New Zealand[16]
28 Jun 2008Italy tourBERJAYA Argentina
12–13
BERJAYA Italy[17]
19 Jun 2010Scotland tourBERJAYA Argentina
9–13
BERJAYA Scotland[18]

The stadium was also the main venue of the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens

Other sporting events hosted

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Music concerts

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Some of the artists that have played at this stadium are Almendra (1980), Charly García (1984), Queen (1981), Rod Stewart (1989), Soda Stereo (1992), Luis Miguel (1994), La Renga (2006), Duran Duran (2007), Callejeros (2010), Joaquín Sabina (2010) and Ricardo Arjona (2015).

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Estadio Minella on Municipalidad de General Pueyrredón website
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 El estadio José María Minella on El Marplatense, 21 May 2017
  3. 1 2 La decadencia del estadio mundialista de Mar del Plata y el plan que avanza por rescatarlo de las ruinas by Milton Del Moral on Infobae, 8 Jan 2023
  4. ↑ Memoria y Balance 2010 on UAR
  5. 1 2 3 Memoria 1985 on UAR
  6. 1 2 El Municipio adjudicó el estadio Minella, el Polideportivo Islas Malvinas y el Parque de Deportes Teodoro Bronzini on Mar del Plata website. 28 Aug 2025
  7. ↑ Memoria 1991 on UAR.com.ar
  8. ↑ El único tandilense que se probó con los All Blacks on El Eco – 19 Jul 2019
  9. ↑ Hace 20 años, Maradona ganaba su último título con la Selección on Infobae, 24 Feb 2013
  10. ↑ Argentina conquistó 40 oros en Mar del Plata 1995 on Télam, 7 Jul 2015
  11. ↑ Se cumplen 25 años de los Juegos Panamericanos Mar del Plata 1995 on Noticias MDQ, 26 Mar 2020
  12. 1 2 3 La historia y la triste actualidad del estadio de Mar del Plata by Ernesto Gallardo – TyC Sports, 28 Aug 2022
  13. ↑ El Concejo Deliberante autorizó a adjudicar la licitación del estadio Minella y el Polideportivo on La Capital, 24 Jul 2025
  14. ↑ Original kick-off scheduled for 13:45. Match delayed by 45 minutes due to both teams wearing identical kits (red, white & blue). The French eventually donned the kits of the local team Club Atlético Kimberley Archived 2017-10-17 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ Memoria y Balance 1989 at UAR
  16. ↑ Memoria y Balance 1991 at UAR
  17. ↑ Memoria y Balance 2008 at UAR
  18. ↑ Memoria y Balance 2010 at UAR
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