Rizal Memorial Stadium

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Rizal Memorial Stadium
Rizal Memorial Football Stadium - field, bleachers area (Malate, Manila; 11-27-2019).jpg
The stadium in 2019
Rizal Memorial Stadium
Full nameRizal Memorial Track and Football
Location Manila, Philippines
Coordinates 14°33′48.25″N120°59′31.20″E / 14.5634028°N 120.9920000°E / 14.5634028; 120.9920000
Public transit BSicon SUBWAY.svg ManilaLine1Logo.svg Vito Cruz
Bus-logo.svg   5  

  6    7    14    17    23    24    25    27    34    38    40    42    48    49  

Contents

  53   P. Ocampo
Owner City Government of Manila
Operator Philippine Sports Commission
Capacity 12,873
Field size105x68 m [1]
SurfaceLimonta Sport artificial turf (FIFA-certified)
Construction
Opened1934
Renovated1953, 1981, 1991, 2005, 2011, 2019, 2021
Architect Juan Arellano [2]
Tenants
Philippines national football team
Philippines women's national football team
Philippines Football League
PFF Women's League
Copa Paulino Alcantara
University Athletic Association of the Philippines
National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)

The Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium (simply known as the Rizal Memorial Stadium) is a stadium in Manila, Philippines. Part of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex which is designated by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as a historical landmark, it served as the main stadium of the 1954 Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games on three occasions. The stadium is the official home of the Philippines national football teams and domestic matches.

Background

Aerial view of the Carnival Grounds, 1931 Philippine Island - Manila - NARA - 68156462.jpg
Aerial view of the Carnival Grounds, 1931
Aerial view of Rizal Memorial Stadium, 1934 Philippine Island - Manila - NARA - 68156649.jpg
Aerial view of Rizal Memorial Stadium, 1934

Since the 1930s, it has hosted all major local football tournaments and some international matches. [a] When a new tartan track was laid out at the oval for the country's initial hosting of the 1981 Southeast Asian Games, the venue became a hub for athletics and the football pitch's condition slowly deteriorated. [3] It eventually became unsuitable for international matches which meant the Philippine national team would have to play their home games at an alternate venue.

In 2010, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) partnered with the De La Salle University to refurbish the stadium's football pitch. [4] The stadium had undergone a major renovation program with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) spend ₱3.4 million for the renovation of the locker rooms, comfort rooms, and the fiberglass seats. [5] The renovation was completed in 2011 and was first used for the game of Azkals against Sri Lanka in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers round on July 3, 2011 which was the first international football game held at the stadium in the decades, [5] [6] where the Philippine national team won 4-0 overall. [4] [7] [6] However, the pitch (which was a natural grass) deteriorated again due to the number of football and rugby events, [8] that led the PSC to convert it into an artificial turf in 2014. [8] [9] In 2015, its football pitch received the 2-star accreditation from FIFA, making it the first football pitch in the Philippines to have it. [10]

The stadium has undergone a major renovation after it was designated as the venue for the men's football event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games [11] [12] New individual seats are to be installed in the spectator area of the stadium outside the main grandstand. [11] The renovation also includes the upgrading of its rubberized track oval. [13] The renovation will be funded from the ₱842.5 million given by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to the Philippine Sports Commission. [14]

Sport

Athletics

Rizal Memorial has hosted several regional athletic meets, among the firsts being the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games, the precursor of the Asian Games. It then went on to host the 1954 Asian Games. Aside from the athletic events, it also served as the main stadium for both of the multi-sport events. It also hosted the athletic events of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and ASEAN Para Games.

It hosted regional athletic championships, hosting Asian Athletics Championships twice in 1993 and 2003. On a national level, the stadium has served as the venue for the Philippine Athletics Championships several times.

Football

Domestic

Rizal Memorial is the home to the Philippines Football League since the league's inaugural season, hosting matches during the 2017 Philippines Football League, 2018 Philippines Football League, 2019 Philippines Football League, 2022–23 Philippines Football League, and the 2024–25 Philippines Football League.

Rizal Memorial is the home to the Philippines Football League, hosting matches since the league's inaugural season in 2017. It also hosts the matches for the Copa Paulino Alcantara. The football tournaments for the National Collegiate Athletics Association and University Athletic Association of the Philippines are held in the stadium. The 2023 PFF Women's League was also held at the stadium.

International

One of the first events held in the stadium is the football tournament of the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games. The opening match between the Philippines and China on 12 May 1934 drew an estimated crowd of 40,000 people. China won the match 2–1, and eventually won the title. [15] Other football tournaments of regional multi-sport events includes the 1954 Asian Games, the 1981, 1991, and 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

In 1966 and 1970, the AFC Youth Championship was held at Rizal Memorial.

The 2012 and 2014 Philippine Peace Cup were held in the stadium.

AFC Champions League tournaments were also held in the stadium:

Other events held at the stadium:

AFF Championships

EditionDateTimeTeam #1ResultTeam #2RoundSpectators
2016 AFF Suzuki Cup 25 November 201620:00 UTC+8Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 1–2Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Group stage467
2022 AFF Championship 23 December 202218:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 5–1Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei Group stage1,650
2 January 202320:30 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1–2Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 2,370
2024 ASEAN Championship 12 December 202418:30 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1–1Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar Group stage1,589
18 December 202421:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1–1Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 3,346
27 December 202421:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 2–1Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Semifinals Leg 17,116

2022 AFF Women's Championship

DateTimeTeam #1ResultTeam #2RoundSpectators
4 July 202216:00 UTC+8Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 0–0Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia Group stage235
19:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1–0Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1,408
6 July 202216:00 UTC+8Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 2–2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 207
19:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 7–0Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 647
8 July 202216:00 UTC+8Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4–0Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
19:00 UTC+8Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 0–4Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 429
10 July 202216:00 UTC+8Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 1–4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 334
19:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 4–1Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 1,464
12 July 202216:00 UTC+8Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 1–0Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 2,923
13 July 202219:00 UTC+8Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 4–0Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 157
15 July 202216:00 UTC+8Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 2–0Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar Semi-finals
20:00 UTC+8Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 0–4Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 3,233
17 July 202216:00 UTC+8Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 4–3Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Third place match
19:30 UTC+8Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 0–3Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Final8,257

FIFA World Cup Qualification

DateTimeTeam #1ResultTeam #2RoundSpectators
16 November 202319:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 0–2Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Second round10,378
21 November 202319:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1–1Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 9,880
26 March 202419:00 UTC+8Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 0–5Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 10,014

Rugby

The first international rugby test in the stadium was held when the Philippines hosted the 2012 Asian Five Nations Division I tournament, which doubled as a qualifying tournament for the 2015 Rugby World Cup; the goal posts were erected just days prior to the tournament. [16]

Other purposes

Concert

On July 4, 1966, the Rizal Memorial Stadium hosted two sold-out concerts of the Beatles. The combined attendance was 80,000 with the evening concert registering 50,000 paying audience and becoming the Beatles' second-biggest concert ever. [17]

Add to this, a celebrity had concert in this Stadium “The Vic Damone Show” held on 24 December 1960. A huge audience attended his concert in the evening.

List of concerts showing date, headlining artist or band, name of concert or tour and opening acts
DateHeadlining ArtistConcert or TourOpening actsAttendance
4 July 1966 The Beatles Asian Tour 1966 Reycard Duet, Wing Duo, Pilita Corrales est 50,000
16 December 1978 Asin
15 February 1992 New Kids on the Block No More Games Tour
11 December 1985 Pops Fernandez Always Pops

COVID-19 pandemic

During the government's "Hatid Tulong" program, the stadium was used as the designated temporary holding place for Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs). [18] [19] With the stadium being full, many other individuals who availed of the said program ended up sleeping and gathering outside.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The location of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex was formerly known as the Manila Carnival Grounds. During this time, it also hosted local and international football matches.

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References

  1. ↑ "Estádios - Manila, Filipinas". Show de Bola (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  2. ↑ De Guzman, Nicai (19 March 2018). "How Heritage Groups and Athletes Fought to Keep the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Alive". Esquire Philippines. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  3. ↑ June Navarro (29 March 2009). "PSC plans to restore RMSC football field". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  4. 1 2 Solanoy, Lesmes (6 July 2011). "Unsung Heroes of Philippine Football". Go Archers. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  5. 1 2 Fenix, Ryan (4 June 2011). "All systems go for Azkals' World Cup qualifier at Rizal Memorial". Interaksyon.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  6. 1 2 Tupas, Cedelf P. (13 June 2011). "Rizal stadium ready for Azkals vs Sri Lanka football match". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  7. ↑ Flores, Celest R. (3 July 2011). "Fulltime: Philippine Azkals 4-0 Sri Lanka". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  8. 1 2 Terrado, Reuben (9 May 2014). "Take a peek at Azkals' refurbished home: Rizal Stadium's new artificial turf ready to host games". Spin.ph. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  9. ↑ "Rizal Memorial Stadium Rolls Out A New Green Carpet for Philippine Football". E-Sports International. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Schuengel, Frank (12 February 2015). "Rizal Memorial Stadium Becomes First Football Pitch In The Philippines To Receive FIFA Accreditation". When In Manila. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  11. 1 2 "2019 SEA Games: Rizal Memorial Stadium renovations in full swing". Rappler. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "Venues to serve Philippine sports beyond 30th Southeast Asian Games". Spin.ph. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  13. ↑ Alabastro, Antonio (1 February 2019). "He advocates play and games to foster brotherhood". The Manila Times . Retrieved 17 November 2019. The track and field stadium will look like a dalaga [unmarried woman]" before the 60-year-old Southeast Asian Games opens at the Philippine Arena in November this year, Ramirez says. Its faded bleachers will be repainted, its rubberized track, where legendary runners Mona Sulaiman and Lydia de Vega trained, will be upgraded.
  14. ↑ Sampayan, Jac (12 September 2019). "Will it beat the SEAG deadline? Inside the Rizal Memorial makeover". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  15. ↑ "Tenth Far Eastern Games 1934 (Manila)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Teams ready for RWC Qualifiers in Manila". Rugbyworldcup.com. 14 April 2012. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "A Hard Day's Night in Manila". BeatlesNumber9.com. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  18. ↑ "LOOK: Stranded individuals cram inside Rizal Memorial Sports Complex". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "Some LSIs slept on the streets as Rizal Memorial Stadium already full". www.msn.com. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
Preceded by Asian Athletics Championships
Venue
1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Asian Athletics Championships
Venue
2003 		Succeeded by
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