Field size 105 x 70 m Scoreboard Yes Capacity 49,540 Phone +54 11 4641-5663 | Surface Grass Built 1947-51 Opened 22 April 1951 | |
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Full name Estadio José Amalfitani Location Avenida Juan B. Justo, 8900, Buenos Aires, Argentina Address Av. Juan B. Justo 9200, 1408 CABA, Argentina Owner Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield Teams Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield, Argentina national rugby union team, Jaguares Similar Estadio Pedro Bidegain, Estadio Monumental Antonio V, Estadio Tomás Adolfo Du, Estadio Presidente Juan Do, La Bombonera Profiles | ||
The Estadio José Amalfitani is a stadium located in the Liniers neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, near Liniers railway station. The venue is the home of the Argentine Primera División club Vélez Sársfield and is also known as El Fortín de Liniers or Vélez Sarsfield.
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The original, temporary stadium was built between 1941 and 1943 in wood, and the current facility was built in cement between 1947 and 1951. It was renovated and enlarged 26 years later in preparation for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The stadium has a capacity of 49,540 spectators, although it does not provide seating for all of them like most Argentine stadia.
The José Amalfitani Stadium is also the national stadium for the Argentina national rugby union team (Los Pumas). Although the team plays test matches throughout the country, their highest-profile tests are usually held here. The newly formed Argentine Super Rugby team, Jaguares, are playing its home games at the stadium.
Early History
Before buying the terrain to build the stadium, Vélez Sársfield played their home matches on rented grounds in the neighboring Villa Luro section. The original grounds earned the nickname El Fortín in 1932, for the team's strength playing at home.
After suffering relegation from the Argentine Primera División in 1940, Vélez was sacked from the Villa Luro ground they were renting. Three years later, in 1941, the club obtained the terrain of the current stadium, property of the Buenos Aires Western Railway. The ground was a swamp of the Maldonado Stream, where construction was difficult. However, the club's president José Amalfitani led the construction of the first stadium at the site, which was inaugurated on April 11, 1943. The new stadium used the same wood stands from the old Villa Luro stadium, and was inaugurated in a 2–2 draw with River Plate. Vélez striker Juan José Ferraro scored the first goal in the stadium's history (the others were scored by Ángel Fernández for Vélez and Adolfo Pedernera twice for River). The current stadium was inaugurated on April 22, 1951.
The stadium was renamed in honor of José Amalfitani on December 7, 1968. The following year, a modern lighting system by Siemens was installed, and the first of the upper stand sections was completed.
1978 FIFA World Cup
The stadium was refurbished for the 1978 FIFA World Cup with the completion of press boxes and another section of upper stands, and hosted three games in the group stages.
Concerts
The Stadium has hosted many international concerts since its opening.It hosts events of up to 50,000 spectators.
Rugby
The Estadio José Amalfitani is the home ground for the Jaguares, the Argentine Super Rugby franchise. The ground regularly hosts tests of the Argentina national rugby union team (Los Pumas).
When South Africa visited Argentina in November 2005 at Vélez Sársfield, they faced strong Pumas side. The Pumas took a 20–16 lead into the half-time break, before fading in the second half and losing 34–23.
In the 2006 mid-year tests, the second test against Wales, at Vélez Sársfield, saw the Pumas win 45–27, Argentina's largest win ever over Wales. Los Pumas next hosted the world's top team, the All Blacks at Vélez Sársfield. The All Blacks survived a Pumas assault in the final minutes to hang on to win 25–19 and to deny Argentina a huge upset.
Los Pumas began their final preparation for the 2007 Rugby World Cup with a summer two-test series against visiting Ireland, including a 16–0 win at Vélez Sársfield.