Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo

Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo
Monumental de Barcelona
Aereal View of the "El Coloso del Salado"

The Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo (Estadio Monumental de Barcelona before its renaming in 1997) is a football stadium located in the parish of Tarqui in the north of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The stadium is the home to an Ecuadorian football club Barcelona Sporting Club.

The Monumental was born from the initiative of its President Isidro Romero Carbo. He wanted Barcelona to have its own stadium because Barcelona used to play its home games at the Estadio Modelo Alberto Spencer Herrera.

It was inaugurated on December 27, 1987, and Barcelona's first game was against Barcelona FC which Barcelona SC won 1-0. Barcelona SC invited tons of South American Football Celebrities including Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé) who was astonished. In addition, he compared the stadium to its majesty, the Maracanã. Pele said

" Si Maracaná é estadio mais grande do mundo, Monumental é uno de los más belios do mundo. "

Pelé and his phrase have a Golden Plaque inside the stadium.

The Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo has a capacity of 89,930 spectators,making it the second largest stadium in South America. There are also health care facilities, apparel-and-souvenir shops, and restaurants, on a total area of about 5,100m². The football field is 105 metres long and 70 metres wide. The training field near the stadium is called Alternate Field Sigfredo Agapito Chuchuca in honor of one of the greatest midfielders in the history of Barcelona SC.

In 2006, the Barcelona SC leadership decided to name the field Alberto Spencer Herrera in honor of the best football player in the history of Ecuador.

Full name Estadio Monumental de Barcelona Isidro Romero Carbo
Location Guayaquil, Ecuador
Built 1987
Opened December 27, 1987
Renovated June 17, 1994
Owner Barcelona Sporting Club
Operator Barcelona Sporting Club
Surface Grass
Construction cost $ 70,000,000.00
Architect Miguel Angel Valarezo Tumbaco
Tenants
Barcelona S.C.
Capacity
89,930
Dimensions
105 x 70 Meters