La Bombonera

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Lore & Background

The stadium is widely regarded as one of the most iconic stadiums in the world due to its design, the club's history and its intense atmosphere. It has been host to many noteworthy players including Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Alfredo Di Stéfano, and Pelé. It has been declared of public interest by the government of Argentine capital Buenos Aires. 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. The unusual shape gives it excellent acoustics. The stadium is noted for its tendency to shake with heavy fan activity; according to writer Christopher Thomas Gaffney, 'La Bombonera does not shake, it beats.'

In Their Own Story

In 1967, Osvaldo Zubeldía coached the team that won the Metropolitano championship, opening the floodgates for other 'small' clubs to win titles. The team went on to win the Copa Libertadores three years in a row (1968, 1969, and 1970) and the 1968 Intercontinental Cup against Manchester United. That latter game is still remembered for the violent behavior of Estudiantes' players. After a violent Intercontinental match against Milan, the entire team was arrested on orders from Argentine President Juan Carlos Onganía. Goalkeeper Alberto Poletti was suspended for life (later pardoned) and did time in jail with teammates Ramón Aguirre Suárez and Eduardo Luján Manera. The Zubeldía era became a cliché for 'anti-football' due to physical violence and timewasting tactics. The Times commented that Estudiantes is 'one of the most despicable teams ever to emerge from South America.'

Reader's Guide

La Bombonera currently has a gross capacity of 58,305, resulting in around 57,200 seats available for games. Out of its capacity of 49,000, there are 37,538 seats, 2,780 in boxes, and 8,682 standing. Both its interior and exterior are lined with murals painted by artist Pérez Celis depicting many of the club's legendary players and aspects of the district's culture. The stadium opened on May 25, 1940, with a friendly match between Boca and San Lorenzo. The first official game was on June 2, 1940, when Boca Juniors beat Newell's Old Boys 2–0. The stadium was named on April 20, 1986, in honor of Camilo Cichero, and renamed on December 27, 2000, in honor of Alberto Armando.

Did You Know?

• The stadium's nickname La Bombonera means 'box of chocolates' in Spanish, said to have originated from architect Viktor Sulčič using a chocolate box to show the stadium's shape.
• The third tier added in 1953 gave the stadium its enduring nickname La Bombonera.
• An electronic screen was installed in 2008, making it the third venue in Argentina with that technology after Vélez Sársfield and River Plate.