Colombia: The new Barranquilla stadium enters its final phase – StadiumDB.com

The “SuperMetro” is getting closer to reopening and will be ready for the Copa Sudamericana final. The works have satisfied everyone, including CONMEBOL, and further cement the Metropolitano as the home of the Tricolor and the most important stadium in the country.

Federations satisfied with the works

65,000 spectators, improved views of the pitch, new VIP and hospitality areas are among the many changes that will be introduced once the works are completed, nearly six months after construction began.

September has been set as the target for the return of Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, and everything indicates that this deadline will be met. At the beginning of the month, CONMEBOL carried out a new inspection of the venue. The visit allowed officials to assess the stadium’s operational aspects ahead of the Sudamericana final. The different departments reviewed access points, evacuation routes, security, the press room and mixed zones, ticketing, transportation and medical services.

In addition, the hospitality spaces, VIP boxes, VIP areas and sponsor spaces were inspected, along with the facilities required for television broadcasting. The Competitions department checked the condition of the pitch, the players’ and referees’ dressing rooms and the operational areas required for matchday.

© Jdvillalobos (copyright-free)

CONMEBOL was satisfied with the progress, as was Andrés Tamayo, president of the Colombian Football Federation: “We reviewed the different spaces, the pitch and the new works and, really, the progress we have seen is remarkable. The progress of the works and the legacy that this major infrastructure renovation will leave for the country and the city will be a huge step forward in what will be the international projection of football in Colombia and Barranquilla,” Tamayo said.

The works carried out in recent weeks include new dressing rooms and press rooms, the installation of a hybrid pitch that is much more resistant to daily use and the weight of the players and, perhaps most importantly, the installation of the final tier of the expansion, one of the project’s main structural milestones. This does not mean, however, that the works are finished, as additional work still remains before the renovation can be completed.

A park to help combat the heat

At the same time, work is underway around the venue, where a new 16,000 m² Plaza Monumental will be built. It will replace the deteriorated park next to the velodrome and feature new vegetation, recreational and rest areas, as well as the enclosure of the canalized stream.

© Fernando Orozco (cc: by-nc-sa)

Landscaping will play an important role, with native species such as olive trees and mangroves being introduced to improve the surroundings and help mitigate the heat. The aim is for the area surrounding the stadium to match the quality of the interior renovation and for all the works in the surrounding area to be completed before the inauguration of the new Metropolitano.

Once the project is completed, the stadium will be ready to host the 2026 Sudamericana final, which will take place on November 21, as well as national team matches and large-scale events.

The works at the “SuperMetro” are part of a renovation plan covering more than 100 football venues across South America.