La Bombonera

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Lore & Background

The stadium is popularly known as La Bombonera. It is said that the nickname came about while architect Viktor Sulčič was designing the stadium. On occasion of Sulčič's birthday, a friend gave him a box of chocolates as a gift. After that, Sulčič used to take the box to project meetings to show them that the box shape was very like the stadium they were designing. Since then, the stadium would be known as La Bombonera. The first official denomination came on April 20, 1986, when it was named 'Camilo Cichero'. President Mauricio Macri later changed the stadium's name to 'Alberto J. Armando'.

In Their Own Story

The stadium has hosted legendary figures including Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Alfredo Di Stéfano, and Pelé. Its atmosphere is so intense that writer Christopher Thomas Gaffney noted, 'La Bombonera does not shake, it beats.' This vibration occurs as spectators jump in unison, a phenomenon tied to the venue's unique geometry. The stadium was named 'Camilo Cichero' on April 20, 1986, honoring the president who oversaw its construction, before being renamed 'Alberto José Armando' on December 27, 2000, by Mauricio Macri to honor a key figure from the club's 1960s resurgence. In 1996, under Macri's presidency, a fourth tier was added, expanding capacity and replacing lateral boxes with modern metallic structures. The exterior features murals by Rómulo Macció and Pérez Celis, while an electronic screen arrived in 2008.

Reader's Guide

The stadium opened on May 25, 1940, with a friendly match between Boca and San Lorenzo, which the home side won 2–0 with both goals scored by Ricardo Alarcón. The first official game was on June 2, 1940, when Boca Juniors beat Newell's Old Boys 2–0. La Bombonera currently has a gross capacity of 58,305, which results in around 57,200 seats being available for games. The stadium is also used as a concert venue; past performers have included Lenny Kravitz, Elton John, James Blunt, the Bee Gees, and the Backstreet Boys.

Did You Know?

• The unusual shape of the stadium gives it excellent acoustics.
• According to writer Christopher Thomas Gaffney, 'La Bombonera does not shake, it beats.'
• The stadium is noted for its tendency to shake with heavy fan activity during matches.
• Spectators can see the dockyards on the Atlantic coast from the highest reaches of the stadium.