El Sadar

The home of Osasuna in Pamplona, a stadium named after a nearby river.

Estadio El Sadar is the home of CA Osasuna, not a stadium used by the Spain National Team. Located in Pamplona, Navarre, Spain, it was built in 1967 and holds 23,576 people. The stadium was known as El Sadar from 1967 to 2005 and again since 2011, with a period from 2005 to 2011 when it was called Reyno de Navarra by its sponsor, the Government of Navarre.

Quick Facts

Former names: Estadio Reyno de Navarra (2005–2011)
Location: Pamplona, Navarre, Spain
Opened: 2 September 1967
Renovated: 1989, 2003, 2020
Owner: Government of Navarra
Operator: Osasuna
Surface: Grass
Cost: 61,000,000 Pts

Lore & Background

El Sadar opened on 2 September 1967 with a match between Real Zaragoza and Vitoria de Setúbal from Portugal, ending in a 1-1 draw. The following day, Osasuna defeated Vitoria de Setúbal 3-0 for its first win in the new stadium, with Osaba scoring the first goal for Osasuna in the 28th minute. The stadium replaced the San Juan stadium sold the previous year. Its original capacity was 25,000 spectators, with only 7,000 seated. In November 2014, Osasuna was forced to sell the stadium to the regional government of Navarre due to the club's economic crisis, approved in the regional parliament with 31 votes in favour and 18 against. In summer 2015, capacity was reduced from 19,800 to 18,375 due to security-related renovation works. In early 2019, club members voted for an expansion to nearly 24,000 seats. Work began in late 2019 and was completed in early 2021, costing around €21 million, higher than the original €16 million projection. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed work to continue with minimal interruption, though at a slower pace. Bon Jovi performed at the stadium on June 5, 1996, during their These Days Tour.

Did You Know?

The stadium was known as Reyno de Navarra from 2005 to 2011, using the medieval Spanish spelling 'reyno' instead of modern 'reino'.
The stadium's original capacity in 1967 was 25,000 spectators, with only 7,000 seated.