Estadio Riazor

Estadio Municipal de Riazor (Spanish pronunciation: [esˈtaðjo muniθiˈpal de rjaˈθoɾ]), also known as Abanca-Riazor for sponsorship reasons, is an all-seater stadium in A Coruña, Spain. The stadium is the home of Deportivo de La Coruña, and accommodates a total of 32,660 spectators, making it the 14th-largest stadium in Spain and the largest in Galicia.

Abanca-Riazor

Full name	Estadio Municipal de Riazor
Location	A Coruña, Spain
Coordinates	43.368714°N 8.417516°W
Owner	Concello de A Coruña
Operator	R.C. Deportivo de La Coruña
Capacity	32,660[1]
Field size	105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	1939
Built	1940
Opened	28 October 1944
Renovated	1982, 1995–1998, 2018
Architect	Santiago Rey Pedreira
Project manager	José Martín Alonso
Structural engineer	José Martín Alonso
Tenants
Deportivo de La Coruña (1944–present) Spain national football team (selected matches)

History

Although the stadium has hosted home games for Deportivo since its establishment in 1906, it wasn't until 1944 that essential facilities such as stands and changing rooms were installed . The initial field size was 105x74 meters, comparing to current 105x68.[2] That year, the stadium was officially adopted as Deportivo's ground. The opening game was against Valencia CF on 28 October 1944, which saw Depor lose 3-2.[3]

The stadium was renovated in time to host three games during the 1982 FIFA World Cup finals. Also, this asset made Riazor favorable for a Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and RCD Espanyol in 1947, which saw the capital's side claim their ninth cup title.[4]

On 29 June 2017, the stadium was renamed as Abanca-Riazor after the sign of a sponsorship agreement between Abanca and Deportivo de La Coruña until 2025.[5]

International matches

Spain national team matches

Date	Opponent	Score	Competition
6 May 1945	Portugal	4–2	Friendly match
23 June 1966	Uruguay	1–1	Friendly match
20 September 1989	Poland	1–0	Friendly match
18 January 1995	Uruguay	2–2	Friendly match
4 September 2009	Belgium	5–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

1982 FIFA World Cup

The stadium held three matches of Group 1, one of six groups in the group stage of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. The other Group 1 games were also held in Galicia, at Balaídos, Vigo.

15 June 1982	Peru	0–0	Cameroon	Riazor, A Coruña
17:15 CEST		Report		Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Franz Wöhrer (Austria)

19 June 1982	Poland	0–0	Cameroon	Riazor, A Coruña
17:15 CEST		Report		Attendance: 19,000 Referee: Alexis Ponnet (Belgium)

22 June 1982	Poland	5–1	Peru	Riazor, A Coruña
17:15 CEST	Smolarek  55' Lato  58' Boniek  61' Buncol  68' Ciołek  76'	Report	La Rosa  83'	Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Mario Rubio Vázquez (Mexico)

References

1. "Riazor". Deportivo de La Coruña. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
2. "HISTORIA DE RIAZOR | Página Oficial del R.C. Deportivo de La Coruña". HISTORIA DE RIAZOR | Página Oficial del R.C. Deportivo de La Coruña (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 November 2019.
3. "28/10/1944 - 28/10/2014: Riazor cumple 70 años | Página Oficial del R.C. Deportivo de La Coruña". 28/10/1944 - 28/10/2014: Riazor cumple 70 años | Página Oficial del R.C. Deportivo de La Coruña (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 November 2019.
4. Aquellos tiempos maravillosos Archived 10 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
5. "ABANCA y el Dépor llegan a un acuerdo de refinanciación de la deuda y patrocinio del estadio" (in Spanish). Deportivo de La Coruña. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.

External links

• Riazor at rcdeportivo.es
• Estadios de Espana (in English)