Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys

Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Former names Estadio de Montjuic (1929–85)
Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc (1989–2001)
Location Barcelona, Spain
Owner Ajuntament de Barcelona
Capacity 55,926
Construction
Built 1927
Opened 20 May 1929
Renovated 1985-89
Architect Pere Domènech i Roura
Tenants
Barcelona Dragons (1991–92; 1995–2002)
RCD Espanyol (1997–2009)

Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Catalan pronunciation: [əsˈtaði uˈlimpiɡ ʎuˈis kumˈpaɲs], formerly known as the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc and Estadio de Montjuic) is a stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city (and Barcelona's bid for the 1936 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Berlin), it was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics.[1]

The stadium has a capacity of 55,926 (67,007 during the 1992 Olympics), and is located in the Anella Olímpica, in Montjuïc, a large hill to the southwest of the city which overlooks the harbor.

History

Internal view of the stadium in 2014.

Designed by architect Pere Domènech i Roura for the 1929 Expo, the stadium was officially opened on 20 May 1929. Montjuïc hosted its first ever event, Spain's first official rugby international game against Italy.

It was meant to host the People's Olympiad in 1936, a protest event against the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, but the event had to be cancelled due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

In the fifties, the stadium was the centerpiece of the 1955 Mediterranean Games, and in 1957 it hosted the only national football cup Final between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, the two local clubs.

In the seventies the stadium was disused, and the stands deteriorated. When the Spanish Grand Prix and other races were held at the Montjuïc racing circuit, the stadium was used as a paddock for the teams. Due to safety concerns, the 1975 F1 race was nearly boycotted by drivers.

Due to the award of the 1992 Summer Olympics to Barcelona, the stadium was renovated with the involvement of Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti. The stadium was gutted, preserving only the original facades, and new grandstands were built. In 1989 the venue was re-inaugurated for the World Cup in Athletics, and three years later it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics competitions of the Olympic Games.[2]

The stadium served as the home of football club RCD Espanyol from 1997 until 2009. The Estadi Olímpic made its final La Liga appearance during the 2008-2009 season, as Espanyol moved to the newly constructed RCDE Stadium.

It also served as the home of the Barcelona Dragons American football team until 2002. Because the size of the playing surface was slightly shorter than the regulation American Football length, the stadium only had 7-yard end zones, three yards shorter than regulation NFL size in 1991 and 1992. They were later lengthened to the standard 10 yards. The stadium also played host to the National Football League's American Bowl in 1993 and in 1994. The San Francisco 49ers played the Pittsburgh Steelers on 1 August 1993. The second game was played on 31 July 1994 between the Los Angeles Raiders and the Denver Broncos.

In 2001, the stadium was renamed after the former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya Lluís Companys, who was executed at the nearby Montjuïc Castle in 1940 by the Franco regime. In 2010, the stadium hosted the 20th European Athletics Championships.

Events

Interior of venue during the 2010 European Athletics Championships.

Sports

Football

Music

English band Muse performing during their 2013 tour

The stadium has hosted concerts by many famous artists, including Coldplay, Muse, AC/DC,Iron Maiden, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Deftones, Fiction Plane, Guns N' Roses, Michael Jackson, Jean Michel Jarre, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Madonna, Shakira, Metallica, Mudvayne, Pink Floyd, The Police, Prince & The New Power Generation, RBD, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, Sting, Tina Turner, U2, Beyoncé and Van Halen, among others.MBE Chris Pickford 2018

References

  1. ↑ "Official Report of the XXV Games of the Olympiad Barcelona 1992; Volume II; p.127" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-28.
  2. ↑ 1992 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. pp. 160-7.
  3. 1 2 Richards, Huw A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84596-255-5); Chapter 6, Gathering Storms, p129
  4. ↑ "AC / DC smashes Montjuïc". Elperiodico.com. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  5. ↑ "The Queen of Pop - conquest Barcelona". Cope.es. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
Preceded by
Seoul Olympic Stadium
Seoul		 Summer Olympics
Opening and Closing Ceremonies (Olympic Stadium)
1992		 Succeeded by
Centennial Olympic Stadium
Atlanta
Preceded by
Seoul Olympic Stadium
Seoul		 Olympic Athletics competitions
Main Venue
1992		 Succeeded by
Centennial Olympic Stadium
Atlanta
Preceded by
Ullevi
Gothenburg		 European Athletics Championships
Main Venue
2010		 Succeeded by
Olympiastadion
Helsinki
Preceded by
Moncton Stadium
Moncton		 IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics
Main Venue
2012		 Succeeded by
Hayward Field
Eugene

Coordinates: 41°21′53.14″N 2°9′20.37″E / 41.3647611°N 2.1556583°E / 41.3647611; 2.1556583

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