Demolition of Costa Rica’s National Stadium has begun
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
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End of an arena: Freiland Gutiérrez supervises the demolition of Costa Rica’s National Stadium in La Sabana Park yesterday, the end of an era for a venue that not only has hosted great moments in soccer, including an appearance by the legendary Pelé, but has been graced by the likes of Pope John Paul II and Pavarotti. Construction on a new stadium, a gift from China, is set to begin in July.
Demolition of Costa Rica’s National Stadium has begun, marking an adiós to an era that for 84 years has seen moments in sports, culture and social history.
It’s also paving the way for a new stadium triple its size, one of the recent gifts China has showered over this Central American country
The stadium, in the city’s west Sabana district, has hosted figures from soccer hero Pelé to Pope John Paul II, and concerts by Luciano Pavarotti, Aerosmith and Bruce Springsteen.
By yesterday, much of the arena had been turned to rubble.
But nostalgic fans last Sunday had already taken home chunks of the historic stadium. At the end of the last game – Brujas beat University of Costa Rica 3-2 – spectators rushed to grab pieces of earth and grass, goal net and cement as souvenirs.
