Monumental "U"

Estadio Monumental (Monumental Stadium), is a football stadium in the district of Ate in Lima, Peru, home ground of the football Club Universitario de Deportes, which opened in 2000 to replace the Estadio Teodoro Lolo Fernandez. Designed by Progreso International and Gremco S.A., Uruguayan architect Walter Lavalleja Sarriés led the construction of the stadium. It is Peru’s largest stadium and also the second largest in South America, behind Brazil's Maracanã. It has a spectator-capacity of 80,093; 59,177 seated in the four stands and 20,916 in luxury box suites known as palcos. The stadium was built in accordance with FIFA’s manual of technical specifications for World Cup finals.
The stadium has hosted some of the Peru national football team's international matches including FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. It also hosted the Finalisima of the 2008 Copa Perú. However, the Monumental was absent from the organization of the 2004 Copa América because of conflicts between the club and the organizers. In addition, between its opening in 2000 until 2007, only one edition of Peru's most important derby was played due to security concerns; however in late 2008, the derby returned to the stadium.

History 

Located on Avenida Prolongación Javier Prado Este, the 80,093-spectator stadium and the surrounding sport complex cover an area of 186,542 m². There are 3 fields; the stadium field and two training grounds. The stadium is divided into two main sections; the lower section of stands for the general public and the upper section of 6 floors of luxury boxes. The lower section of the stadium consists of four stands—known as Norte, Sur, Oriente, and Occidente (North, South, East, and West respectively)—each having its own entrance. The east and west stands are all-seaters, while the north and south stands have standing terraces. Behind the western and eastern stands, there is a handicapped zone. In the center of the western stand the Palco Oficial is situated for about 600 spectators, which has a private entrance and commodities such as bathrooms and a cafeteria. Together, these four stands can receive 59,177 spectators. The upper section consists of the luxury box suites which are 1,250 in total for 20,916 spectators; the suite owners have a private parking lot.
The main field is 18 meters below ground level and from the outside the stadium, only the luxury suites are visible. The field is 105 x 70 meters in size. Modern floodlighting was installed, with a total of 160 Ultra Sport General Electric spotlights of 2000 watts with four levels of illumination. Above the northern stand, an LED display electronic scoreboard stands which measures 8 x 10 meters. Above the southern stand, a Philips screen is situated that measures 10 x 6 meters. Above the western stand, a surveillance room with eight security cameras monitoring the interiors and exteriors of the stadium. The field is watered by sprinkler irrigation.
The stadium has four changing rooms which are below the western stand; two of them are the main changing rooms for the main game the stadium hosts, while the other two are for teams participating in a preliminary match. The changing rooms include showers, bathrooms, dressing rooms, and massage rooms. The main changing rooms have an office for the manager of the team. There is also an anti-doping room, a referees changing room, and a chapel. Below the southern stand is a changing room for musical concert personnel.
In the western stand–Occidente–the first floor of the upper section was exclusively made for the media and press. There are 168 positions for newspaper journalists in addition to 32 cabins for radio broadcasts as well as 5 specially-made positions for television broadcasts. Two photography laboratories are available. Several rooms are also available for the press, press conferences, telecommunications, and accreditation.