| Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes | |
Chateau Carreras[1] | |
 | |
.jpg) | |
 Interactive map of Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium | |
| Former names | Estadio Córdoba (1978–2010) |
|---|---|
| Address | Av. Cárcano s/n Córdoba, Argentina |
| Owner | Córdoba Province |
| Operator | Government of Córdoba |
| Capacity | 57,000[2] |
| Field size | 105 x 70 m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1976–1978 |
| Opened | 16 May 1978; 47 years ago (16 May 1978) |
| Renovated | 2020 |
| Expanded | 2010–11 |
| Architect | Sánchez Elía-Peralta Ramos[2] |
| Tenants | |
| |
TheEstadio Mario Alberto Kempes,[2] formerly known asEstadio Córdoba,[2] is a stadium in the Chateau Carreras neighborhood ofCórdoba, Argentina. Owned by theCórdoba Province, the venue is used mostly for association football andrugby union matches and also sometimes forathletics.
The stadium was built in 1976 in preparation for the1978 FIFA World Cup, with a capacity for 37,851 spectators[2] although it does not provide seating for all of them, like many Argentine stadiums.
Most football teams inCórdoba have their own stadiums but they usually prefer playing in this stadium for its size and comfort, especially when playing important games that attract big crowds. Generally, this stadium is used forTalleres' matches, and is used forBelgrano's,Instituto's andRacing's matches. TheArgentina national football team home matches have also been played here.
In2006 and2007 the stadium hosted some Special Stages ofRally Argentina, a round of theWorld Rally Championship.
During 2010 and 2011 the stadium went through a remodelling process. The field was sunken 4 metres, the iconic Autotrol scoreboards installed for the 1978 World Cup were replaced with modern video screens, new stands were built to improve the poor view caused by the shallow shape of the stadium and the capacity was increased to 57,000, becoming the third largest stadium in Argentina by seating capacity. It was re-opened on 26 June 2011, just 5 days before the start of the2011 Copa América. The stands were fully covered after the cup.
In October 2010 the name was changed to honourMario Kempes, former Argentina national team player and top goal scorer of the1978 FIFA World Cup, who was also a native of Córdoba.
The construction of the stadium was commissioned to "Sánchez Elía-Peralta Ramos" Architects studio of Buenos Aires, which then associated with architects of Córdoba to carry out the project. In 1976, themilitary government of Argentina led byJorge Rafael Videla, created a self-governing entity ("EAM 78") that took over remodelation and construction of stadium and buildings for the1978 FIFA World Cup that would be held in Argentina.[3]
Apart from Estadio Olímpico, other stadiums to be refurbished for the World Cup wereRiver Plate,Vélez Sarsfield,Ciudad de Mendoza,Mar del Plata Stadium. Since the projects were launched, costs of constructions raised toUS$ 520 million, five times higher than1982 World Cup.[4][5]
The stadium was finally inaugurated on 16 May 1978, in a match whereArgentina played a local combined. The first World Cup held in theChateau Carreras stadium was thePeru 3 vScotland 1, on 3 June.
In October 2010 the Legislature of Córdoba Province approved the change of name of the stadium to "Mario Alberto Kempes" to honor the former footballer born in the province.[6] That changed had been driven by local journalist Claudio Menditto on his article "A tribute forMatador", published in 2008.[7]
The Mario Kempes stadium was later refurbished in preparation for the2011 Copa América, and inaugurated on 26 July 2011. Works included positioning of roof on grandstands, and an expansion to 57,000 spectators. Besides, all the lightning was renovated.
In 2024,CA Talleres drew an average home attendance of 51,261 at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.
During the1978 FIFA World Cup, the stadium hosted twoGroup 2 matches, threeGroup 4 matches and three more duringsecond round.
| Date | Round | Group | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 June | 1 | 4 |  Peru | 3–1 |  Scotland |
| 6 June | 2 |  West Germany | 6–0 |  Mexico | |
| 7 June | 4 | Scotland | 1–1 |  Iran | |
| 10 June | 2 | West Germany | 0–0 |  Tunisia | |
| 11 June | 4 | Peru | 4–1 | Iran | |
| 14 June | 2 | A |  Netherlands | 5–1 |  Austria |
| 18 June | West Germany | 2–2 | Netherlands | ||
| 21 June | Austria | 3–2 | West Germany |
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The Mario Kempes Stadium hosted three Group B matches and a semi-final match during the1987 Copa América; five group stage matches, two round of 16 matches, a quarter-final match and a semi-final match at the2001 FIFA World Youth Championship and at the2011 Copa America, the stadium hosted twoGroup B matches, oneGroup A match and a quarter-final match.
The stadium also held the2015 and2016 finals of theCopa Argentina, and the2015 Supercopa Argentina. Besides, the stadium hosted the2020,[8] whereDefensa y Justicia were crowned champions after beatingLanús 3–0, and2022 finals ofCopa Sudamericana.
In2022 the Stadium Mario Kempes hosted theCopa de la Liga Profesional final betweenBoca Juniors andTigre.[9]
Mario Kempes Stadium has hosted several rugby union games of theArgentina national team. Likewise,Unión Cordobesa de Rugby used the stadium for defining instances of its annual championship, as well as its representative team played several matches against touring national sides.
| Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 October 1985 | Córdoba RU |  New Zealand | [10] | |
| 21 June 1988 | Córdoba RU |  France | [11] | |
| 10 June 1996 | Córdoba RU | France | [12] | |
| 18 June 2005 |  Argentina |  Italy | [13] | |
| 16 June 2012 | Argentina | France | [14] |
The 1982World Boxing Association world Super-Bantamweight title fight between championSergio Palma and former WBA world Bantamweight championJorge Luján was held there. The fight was won by Palma on a unanimous decision after 15 rounds.[15]
The Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium is the center of a 40 hectares park andsports complex namedPolo Deportivo Kempes, that includes the "Soledad García" provincialfield hockey stadium, opened in 2012,[16] that honors the two times world championSoledad García; anOlympic-size swimming pool, opened in 2014 and named after the olympic medallistGeorgina Bardach;[17] an auxiliar field, located north of the main stadium, that hosts training and smaller football and rugby events; a BMX circuit, a running track, and basketball, volleyball and tennis facilities.[18]
Since 2019, Polo Deportivo Kempes has hosted theCórdoba Open, a men'sATP World Tour 250 series tournament played on outdoor clay courts.[19]
Music concerts hosted at the Mario Kempes stadium include:
| Country | Artist | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
 USA | Gloria Gaynor | 1978 | [20] |
| ARG | Sandro | 1980 | [21] |
| ITA | Franco Simone | 1980 | [22] |
| ARG | Palito Ortega | 1980 | [23] |
| MEX | Luis Miguel | 1982,1992,1994,1996,1997,1999,2003,2008 | |
| ARG | Sumo | 1986, 1987, 1988 | [24] |
| ARG | Soda Stereo | 1987, 1990, 1991, 2007 | [25] |
 SWE | Roxette | 1992 | [26] |
| ARG | Serú Girán | 1992 | [27] |
 BRA | Xuxa | 1992 | |
 UK | Peter Gabriel | 1993 | [28] |
| UK | Duran Duran | 1993 | [29] |
| USA | Bon Jovi | 1993 | [30] |
| USA | Aerosmith | 1994 | [31] |
 PRI | Ricky Martin | 1995 | [32] |
 SPA | Alejandro Sanz | 2001 | |
| ARG | Los Redondos | 2001 | [33] |
| ARG | La Renga | 2003, 2008 | |
| ARG | Callejeros | 2006 | |
| SPA | Joaquín Sabina andJoan Manuel Serrat | 2007 | |
| ARG | Los Fabulosos Cadillacs | 2008 | |
| MEX | Maná | 2007,2011 | [34] |
 GUA | Ricardo Arjona | 2010,2012, 2014 | |
 COL | Shakira | 2011,2025 | [35] |
| USA | Madonna | 2012 | [36] |
 URU | No Te Va Gustar | 2013 | |
 CAN | Justin Bieber | 2013 | [37] |
| USA | Romeo Santos | 2015 | [38] |
| UK | Iron Maiden | 2016 | [39] |
| UK | Paul McCartney | 2016,2024 | |
| ARG | TINI | 2022, 2026 |
31°22′8.24″S64°14′46.48″W / 31.3689556°S 64.2462444°W /-31.3689556; -64.2462444
| Preceded by various venues in Germany | FIFA World Cup 1978 | Succeeded by various venues in Spain |
| Preceded by various venues in Nigeria | FIFA U-20 World Cup Venue 2001 | Succeeded by various venues in United Arab Emirates |
| Preceded by | Copa Sudamericana Final Venue 2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Copa Sudamericana Final Venue 2022 | Succeeded by |
