Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Template other The Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, formerly known as Estadio Córdoba, is a stadium in the Chateau Carreras neighborhood of Córdoba, Argentina. Owned by the Córdoba Province, the venue is used mostly for association football and rugby union matches and also sometimes for athletics.

The stadium was built in 1976 in preparation for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, with a capacity for 37,851 spectators although it does not provide seating for all of them, like many Argentine stadiums.

Most football teams in Córdoba have their own stadiums but they usually prefer playing in this stadium for its size and comfort, especially when playing important games that attract big crowds. Generally, this stadium is used for Talleres' matches, and is used for Belgrano's, Instituto's and Racing's matches. The Argentina national football team home matches have also been played here.

In 2006 and 2007 the stadium hosted some Special Stages of motorsport event named Rally Argentina, a round of the World Rally Championship.

During 2010 and 2011 the stadium went through a remodelling process. The field was sunken 4 metres, the iconic Autotrol scoreboards installed for the 1978 World Cup were replaced with modern video screens, new stands were built to improve the poor view caused by the shallow shape of the stadium and the capacity was increased to 57,000, becoming the third largest stadium in Argentina by seating capacity. It was re-opened on 26 June 2011, just 5 days before the start of the 2011 Copa América. The stands were fully covered after the cup.

In October 2010 the name was changed to honour Mario Kempes, former Argentina national team player and top goal scorer of the 1978 FIFA World Cup, who was also a native of Córdoba.

History

The construction of the stadium was commissioned to "Sánchez Elía-Peralta Ramos" Architects studio of Buenos Aires, which then associated with architects of Córdoba to carry out the project. In 1976, the military government of Argentina led by Jorge Rafael Videla, created a self-governing entity ("EAM 78") that took over remodelation and construction of stadium and buildings for the 1978 FIFA World Cup that would be held in Argentina.

Apart from Estadio Olímpico, other stadiums to be refurbished for the World Cup were River Plate, Vélez Sarsfield, Ciudad de Mendoza, Mar del Plata Stadium. Since the projects were launched, costs of constructions raised to US$ 520 million, five times higher than 1982 World Cup.

The stadium was finally inaugurated on 16 May 1978, in a match where Argentina played a local combined. The first World Cup held in the Chateau Carreras stadium was the Peru 3 v Scotland 1, on 3 June.

In October 2010 the Legislature of Córdoba Province approved the change of name of the stadium to "Mario Alberto Kempes" to honor the former footballer born in the province. That changed had been driven by local journalist Claudio Menditto on his article "A tribute for Matador", published in 2008.

The Mario Kempes stadium was later refurbished in preparation for the 2011 Copa América, and inaugurated on 26 July 2011. Works included positioning of roof on grandstands, and an expansion to 57,000 spectators. Besides, all the lightning was renovated.

In 2024, CA Talleres drew an average home attendance of 51,261 at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.

Sporting events

1978 FIFA World Cup

During the 1978 FIFA World Cup, the stadium hosted two Group 2 matches, three Group 4 matches and three more during second round.

File:Estadio Olímpico de Córdoba 1978.jpg

The stadium during a 1978 FIFA World Cup match

Date	Round	Group	Team 1	Score	Team 2
3 June	1	4	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Peru	flag alias = Flag of Peru.svg	flag alias-spain = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg	flag alias-1820 = Flag of Tacna Regiment (1820 proposal).svg	flag alias-1821 = Flag of Peru (1821-1822).svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of Peru (1822).svg	flag alias-1822a = Flag of Peru (1822–1825).svg	flag alias-1825 = Flag of Peru (1825–1884).svg	flag alias-confederation = Flag of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.svg	flag alias-north = Flag of Peru (1825–1884).svg	link alias-north = North Peru	flag alias-south = Flag of South Peru.svg	link alias-south = South Peru	flag alias-1884 = Flag of Peru (1884–1950).svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Peru (state).svg	flag alias-football = Flag of Peru.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Peruvian Army.svg	link alias-army = Peruvian Army	flag alias-naval= Flag of the Peruvian Navy.svg	link alias-naval = Peruvian Navy	flag alias-air force= Flag of the Peruvian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Peruvian Air Force	flag alias-military=Flag of Peru (war).svg	link alias-military=Peruvian Armed Forces	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Peruvian Navy.svg	link alias-marines = Peruvian Naval Infantry	flag alias-navy = Flag of Peru (state).svg	link alias-navy = Peruvian Navy	size =	name =	altvar = football	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| 3–1||{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Scotland	flag alias = Flag of Scotland.svg	flag alias-1542 = Flag of Scotland (traditional).svg	link alias-football = Scotland men's national football team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}
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7 June		4	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Scotland	flag alias = Flag of Scotland.svg	flag alias-1542 = Flag of Scotland (traditional).svg	link alias-football = Scotland men's national football team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| 1–1 ||{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Iran	flag alias = Flag of Iran.svg	flag alias-official = Flag of Iran (official).svg	flag alias-1502 = Flag of Persia (1502-1524).svg	flag alias-1576 = Safavid Flag.svg	flag alias-1665 = Flag of Persia (1665).svg	flag alias-1736 = Nadir Shah Flag.svg	flag alias-1760 = Zand Dynasty flag.svg	border-1760 =	flag alias-1796 = Qajar Naval Ensign.svg	flag alias-1849 = Amir Kabir Flag.svg	flag alias-1907 = Flag of Persia (1907).svg	flag alias-1910 = Flag of Persia (1910-1925).svg	flag alias-1925 = State Flag of Iran (1925).svg	flag alias-1964 = State Flag of Iran (1964).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces.svg	link alias-army = Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Islamic Republic of Iran Navy	link alias-naval = Islamic Republic of Iran Navy	flag alias-military = Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.svg	link alias-military = Islamic Republic of Iran Army	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.svg	link alias-coast guard = Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = 1964	related1 = Persia	related2 = Pahlavi Iran	related3 = Qajar Iran }}
10 June		2	{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Germany	flag alias = Flag of Germany.svg	flag alias-1866 = Flag of the German Empire.svg	link alias-1866 = German Empire	flag alias-empire = Flag of the German Empire.svg	link alias-empire = German Empire	flag alias-1919 = Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg	link alias-1919 = Weimar Republic	flag alias-Weimar = Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg	link alias-Weimar = Weimar Republic	flag alias-1933 = Flag of Germany (1933-1935).svg	flag alias-1935 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	link alias-1935 = Nazi Germany	flag alias-Nazi = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	link alias-Nazi = Nazi Germany	flag alias-1946 = Merchant flag of Germany (1946–1949).svg	border-1946 =	flag alias-1949 = Flag of Germany.svg	flag alias-EUA = German Olympic flag (1959-1968).svg	flag alias-gold = Flag of West Germany; Flag of Germany (1990–1996).svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Germany (state).svg	link alias-military = Bundeswehr	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Germany.svg	border-naval =	link alias-naval = German Navy	flag alias-coast guard=German Federal Coast Guard racing stripe.svg	border-coast guard=	link alias-coast guard=German Federal Coast Guard	flag alias-army = Colour of Germany.svg	flag alias-air force =Flag of Germany (state).svg	link alias-air force = German Air Force	link alias-army = German Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Germany.svg	link alias-navy = German Navy	border-navy =	border-army=	size =	name = West Germany	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| 0–0 ||{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Tunisia	flag alias = Flag of Tunisia.svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of Tunisia (1959–1999).svg	flag alias-old = Tunisian flag till 1831.svg	border-old =	flag alias-bey = Flag of Tunis Bey-fr.svg	Tunisian National Navy	link alias-army = Tunisian Army	link alias-air force= Tunisian Air Force	Tunisian National Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = 1959 }}
11 June		4	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Peru	flag alias = Flag of Peru.svg	flag alias-spain = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg	flag alias-1820 = Flag of Tacna Regiment (1820 proposal).svg	flag alias-1821 = Flag of Peru (1821-1822).svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of Peru (1822).svg	flag alias-1822a = Flag of Peru (1822–1825).svg	flag alias-1825 = Flag of Peru (1825–1884).svg	flag alias-confederation = Flag of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.svg	flag alias-north = Flag of Peru (1825–1884).svg	link alias-north = North Peru	flag alias-south = Flag of South Peru.svg	link alias-south = South Peru	flag alias-1884 = Flag of Peru (1884–1950).svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Peru (state).svg	flag alias-football = Flag of Peru.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Peruvian Army.svg	link alias-army = Peruvian Army	flag alias-naval= Flag of the Peruvian Navy.svg	link alias-naval = Peruvian Navy	flag alias-air force= Flag of the Peruvian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Peruvian Air Force	flag alias-military=Flag of Peru (war).svg	link alias-military=Peruvian Armed Forces	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Peruvian Navy.svg	link alias-marines = Peruvian Naval Infantry	flag alias-navy = Flag of Peru (state).svg	link alias-navy = Peruvian Navy	size =	name =	altvar = football	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| 4–1||{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Iran	flag alias = Flag of Iran.svg	flag alias-official = Flag of Iran (official).svg	flag alias-1502 = Flag of Persia (1502-1524).svg	flag alias-1576 = Safavid Flag.svg	flag alias-1665 = Flag of Persia (1665).svg	flag alias-1736 = Nadir Shah Flag.svg	flag alias-1760 = Zand Dynasty flag.svg	border-1760 =	flag alias-1796 = Qajar Naval Ensign.svg	flag alias-1849 = Amir Kabir Flag.svg	flag alias-1907 = Flag of Persia (1907).svg	flag alias-1910 = Flag of Persia (1910-1925).svg	flag alias-1925 = State Flag of Iran (1925).svg	flag alias-1964 = State Flag of Iran (1964).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces.svg	link alias-army = Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Islamic Republic of Iran Navy	link alias-naval = Islamic Republic of Iran Navy	flag alias-military = Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.svg	link alias-military = Islamic Republic of Iran Army	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.svg	link alias-coast guard = Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = 1964	related1 = Persia	related2 = Pahlavi Iran	related3 = Qajar Iran }}
14 June	2	A	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Netherlands	flag alias = Flag of the Netherlands.svg	flag alias-prinsengeus = Naval Jack of the Netherlands.svg	flag alias-army =Flag of the Royal Netherlands Army.svg	flag alias-air force=Flag of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.svg	link alias-air force= Royal Netherlands Air Force	link alias-army= Royal Netherlands Army	flag alias-naval = Flag of the Netherlands.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Netherlands Navy	flag alias-navy = Naval Jack of the Netherlands.svg	link alias-navy=Royal Netherlands Navy	flag alias-marines = Naval Jack of the Netherlands.svg	link alias-marines = Netherlands Marine Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| 5–1 ||{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Austria	flag alias = Flag of Austria.svg	flag alias-empire = Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Austria (state).svg	flag alias-1230 = Flag of Austria (1230–1934).svg	flag alias-war = Austria-Hungary-flag-1869-1914-naval-1786-1869-merchant.svg	flag alias-1934 = State flag of Austria (1934–1938).svg	flag alias-1938 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of Austria (state).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-army = Austrian Land Forces	flag alias-naval = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-naval = Austrian Navy	link alias-air force = Austrian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-navy = Austrian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}
18 June			{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Germany	flag alias = Flag of Germany.svg	flag alias-1866 = Flag of the German Empire.svg	link alias-1866 = German Empire	flag alias-empire = Flag of the German Empire.svg	link alias-empire = German Empire	flag alias-1919 = Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg	link alias-1919 = Weimar Republic	flag alias-Weimar = Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg	link alias-Weimar = Weimar Republic	flag alias-1933 = Flag of Germany (1933-1935).svg	flag alias-1935 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	link alias-1935 = Nazi Germany	flag alias-Nazi = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	link alias-Nazi = Nazi Germany	flag alias-1946 = Merchant flag of Germany (1946–1949).svg	border-1946 =	flag alias-1949 = Flag of Germany.svg	flag alias-EUA = German Olympic flag (1959-1968).svg	flag alias-gold = Flag of West Germany; Flag of Germany (1990–1996).svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Germany (state).svg	link alias-military = Bundeswehr	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Germany.svg	border-naval =	link alias-naval = German Navy	flag alias-coast guard=German Federal Coast Guard racing stripe.svg	border-coast guard=	link alias-coast guard=German Federal Coast Guard	flag alias-army = Colour of Germany.svg	flag alias-air force =Flag of Germany (state).svg	link alias-air force = German Air Force	link alias-army = German Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Germany.svg	link alias-navy = German Navy	border-navy =	border-army=	size =	name = West Germany	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| 2–2 ||{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Netherlands	flag alias = Flag of the Netherlands.svg	flag alias-prinsengeus = Naval Jack of the Netherlands.svg	flag alias-army =Flag of the Royal Netherlands Army.svg	flag alias-air force=Flag of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.svg	link alias-air force= Royal Netherlands Air Force	link alias-army= Royal Netherlands Army	flag alias-naval = Flag of the Netherlands.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Netherlands Navy	flag alias-navy = Naval Jack of the Netherlands.svg	link alias-navy=Royal Netherlands Navy	flag alias-marines = Naval Jack of the Netherlands.svg	link alias-marines = Netherlands Marine Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}
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Other football events

File:Estadio Córdoba (Arg vs Ghana) 2.jpg

The stadium during a friendly between Argentina and Ghana in 2009. This picture was taken before its remodelling

The Mario Kempes Stadium hosted three Group B matches and a semi-final match during the 1987 Copa América; five group stage matches, two round of 16 matches, a quarter-final match and a semi-final match at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship and at the 2011 Copa America, the stadium hosted two Group B matches, one Group A match and a quarter-final match.

The stadium also held the 2015 and 2016 finals of the Copa Argentina, and the 2015 Supercopa Argentina. Besides, the stadium hosted the 2020, where Defensa y Justicia were crowned champions after beating Lanús 3–0, and 2022 finals of Copa Sudamericana.

In 2022 the Stadium Mario Kempes hosted the Copa de la Liga Profesional final between Boca Juniors and Tigre.

Rugby union

Mario Kempes Stadium has hosted several rugby union games of the Argentina national team. Likewise, Unión Cordobesa de Rugby used the stadium for defining instances of its annual championship, as well as its representative team played several matches against touring national sides.

Date	Home team	Score	Away team	Ref.
22 October 1985	Córdoba RU	9–72	New Zealand
21 June 1988	Córdoba RU	9–42	France
10 June 1996	Córdoba RU	22–19	France
18 June 2005	Argentina	29–30	Italy
16 June 2012	Argentina	23–20	France

Other sporting events

The 1982 World Boxing Association world Super-Bantamweight title fight between champion Sergio Palma and former WBA world Bantamweight champion Jorge Luján was held there. The fight was won by Palma on a unanimous decision after 15 rounds.

Facilities

File:Estadio de Córdoba.jpg

Aerial view of the complete "Polo Deportivo Kempes" sports complex

The Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium is the center of a 40 hectares park and sports complex named Polo Deportivo Kempes, that includes the "Soledad García" provincial field hockey stadium, opened in 2012, that honors the two times world champion Soledad García; an Olympic-size swimming pool, opened in 2014 and named after the olympic medallist Georgina Bardach; an auxiliar field, located north of the main stadium, that hosts training and smaller football and rugby events; a BMX circuit, a running track, and basketball, volleyball and tennis facilities.

Since 2019, Polo Deportivo Kempes has hosted the Córdoba Open, a men's ATP World Tour 250 series tournament played on outdoor clay courts.

Concerts

Music concerts hosted at the Mario Kempes stadium include:

See also

• List of association football stadiums by capacity

External links

• Estadio Mario Kempes on Municipality of Córdoba (archived)
• Estadio Mario Kempes on Córdoba Turismo