The Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona (, formerly Estadio Ciudad de La Plata) is a multi-purpose stadium located in La Plata, Argentina. It is also known popularly as the Estadio Único (Single Stadium) and is owned by Buenos Aires Province, administered by the Argentine Football Association since December 2025. It had been previously managed jointly by the provincial government, the Municipality of La Plata, and local clubs Estudiantes and Gimnasia y Esgrima.

Opened on June 7, 2003, the stadium was considered "the most modern of Latin America",El Único de La Plata, en la elite de los estadios del planeta fútbol on Infobae (archived, 17 Feb 2011)Todo listo para la reinauguración del Estadio Ciudad de La Plata. Los Andes, 17 Feb 2011 even without having completed all of the planned construction. Its tenants include Estudiantes LP whose own stadium, the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, was declared unsafe in 2005, and Gimnasia y Esgrima LP. Gimnasia returned to their original stadium (Estadio Juan Carmelo Zerillo) in mid-2008.

It is located between 32nd and 526th avenues, 25 Street and 21. These fields also contain a small rugby union stadium and a center for Physical Education, which tend to be intercollegiate events with schools in the area, such as the school No. 31, better known as the Saint Martin Commercial.

History

Beginnings

The idea of the project began in 1947 when Governor Domingo Mercante expropriated the property located at the junction of Roads 32 and 25 and formed the La Plata Sports Complex.

In 1972, La Plata was to be a candidate to host matches in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The Government of Argentina called for project competitive bids to construct a "unique stadium" in the city. It would be built in a municipal land situated near Ringuelet train station, adding other lands to be expropriated. The government choose the project presented by Antonini-Schon-Zemborain, nevertheless it would never carried out.Divididos por una cancha by Jesús Cornejo on La Nación, 2003

In 1989, after a meeting between the Buenos Aires Province Government and the Municipality of La Plata's, Estudiantes and Gimnasia, created a committee to build and manage a complex dedicated entirely to the practice of football and other sports.

Thus, after reviewing several alternatives, the construction of the stadium was proposed to take place in the area of the Center for Physical Education No. 2. This determined as the most accessible area for a stadium in La Plata. In January 1992 it was signed into law 11118, which established the construction site.

Construction

On April 21, 1992, the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata Foundation was established, which was an institution composed equally of representatives from Estudiantes and Gimnasia. The College of Architects and Engineers held a meeting in April 1993 to choose an architectural proposal. It was awarded to Roberto Ferreira & Associates.

In 1996 a permit was given by the Executive Branch that awarded the provincial administration the right to begin construction the following year. The Executive Unit called for public tenders for the job.

A year later they began building the supports for the roof. And in 1998, the governor Eduardo Duhalde and the Mayor of La Plata, Julio Alak, laid the first stone to begin the construction of the stadium.

The works also detained foir trade union and economic problems in 2000, so ad with Eduardo Duhalde as President of the Nation, called for a new tender for the allocation of investment with a view to its installation in May 2003.

Opening and events

The stadium opened on June 7, 2003. The stadium was temporarily closed to convert it into an all-seater stadium, and to install a new roof intended to cover all seats. Work had gone ahead of schedule and the roof was finished before the end of February. The stadium was officially reopened on February 17, 2011, and its first match was played six days later between Estudiantes and Deportes Tolima for the Group 7 of the 2011 Copa Libertadores.

The stadium has since become a significant venue for musicians on tour. Over 300,000 tickets to such events at the stadium were sold in 2011, ranking the La Plata Stadium fifth worldwide in performing events tickets sold.

In 2018 it was announced that the stadium's surface would be replaced by PlayMaster (a type of hybrid grass manufactured by GrandMaster Solutions) therefore Estadio Unico followed European venues such as Johan Cruyff Arena, Juventus Stadium, San Mamés Stadium, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which had installed hybrid surfaces on their pitches.Se presenta el nuevo césped del Estadio Único que lo diferenciará de todos en Sudamérica at 0221.com.ar. 2 Aug 2018

After the death of Diego Maradona in November 2020, the stadium was named "Estadio Único Diego Maradona" to honor the legend.Homenaje al 10: El Estadio Único de La Plata se llamará Diego Maradona on ESPN, 18 Dec 2020 In the same way, one of its grandstands was named "Alejandro Sabella " to honor one of the most notable players from the city.Maradona y una tribuna llevará el nombre de Alejandro Sabella on La Nación, 18 Dec 2020

AFA agreement and renovation In December 2024, the province of Buenos Aires' administration leaded by Axel Kicillof signed an agreement with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for which the stadium would become the main venue for the Argentina national teams. The agreement included the stadium to be used not only for the national teams (from the senior squad to youth and women's teams) but for Primera División finals and other competitions such as Copa Argentina, and even for international tournaments. The deal was named "the new house of the whole Argentine football".La AFA firmó un acuerdo para que el Estadio Único de La Plata sea "la nueva casa de todo el fútbol argentino" at espn.com.ar.

AFA took full control of Estadio Único in December 2025 so the employees of the provincial government that remained working at the stadium were moved to other areas. The agreement also specified that Buenos Aires Province would receive a canon of AR$ 1,000 million per year, plus 30% of ticket sales from non-sporting events held in the venue. The agreement is for 5 years.

As of April 2026, the stadium was under a renovation process that included the field, a new roof and lighting system, among other improvements to its structure. It is expected that Estadio Único is fully operative in November 2026.Alejandro Domínguez mostró los avances de las obras en el estadio Diego Maradona de La Plata: “Celebramos este tipo de iniciativas” at infobae.com. 15 Apr 2026

Sporting events

Football Friendly matches The stadium has hosted at least two friendly matches featuring the Argentina national team. DateTime (UTC−03)Team 1ResultTeam 2Attend.NotesJuly 16, 2003 21:10 40,000 Argentina - International Matches in Era Bielsa 1999-2004Argentina 2-2 Uruguay match summary on ESPNJune 7, 2014 14:45 53,000 Argentina - International Matches in Era Sabella 2011-2014Argentina le ganó a Eslovenia en el último amistoso rumbo al Mundial on La Voz, 7 Jun 2014

2011 Copa América The stadium was confirmed as one of seven venues to host the 2011 Copa América in Argentina including the opening game. La Plata ended up hosting a total of six matches.

DateTime (UTC−03)Team 1ResultTeam 2RoundJuly 1, 201121:451–1Group AJuly 3, 201116:000–0Group BJuly 12, 201121:451–0Group CJuly 17, 201116:000–0 (0–2 p.) QuarterfinalsJuly 19, 201121:45 0–2SemifinalsJuly 31, 201116:00 4–1Third Place play-off

2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup The stadium was confirmed as one of four venues to host the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup including the final.

DateTime (UTC−03)Team 1ResultTeam 2RoundAttendanceMay 21, 202315:001–2Group C 7,613 May 21, 202318:000–1Group C 8,625May 22, 202315:001–0Group E 2,765May 22, 202318:004–0Group E 5,176May 24, 202315:001–1Group C 2,078May 24, 202318:001–2Group C 3,768May 25, 202315:002–3Group E 27,231May 25, 202318:000–3Group E 8,021May 27, 202315:002–0Group D 29,134May 27, 202318:001–1Group C May 28, 202315:000–0Group E May 28, 202318:001–3Group FMay 31, 202314:304–1Round of 16 May 31, 202318:001–2Round of 16 Jun 8, 202314:301–0Semi-finals Jun 8, 202318:002–1Semi-finals Jun 11, 202314:302–1Third place play-off Jun 11, 202318:001–0Final

Rugby The Rugby Championship The stadium has also hosted a number of rugby matches between Argentina and New Zealand as part of The Rugby Championship, which Argentina joined in 2012.

DateTime (UTC−03)Team 1ResultTeam 2Round Ref. 29 Sep 2012 20:10 Round 5 53,000 Argentina v New Zealand at worldrugby.com 28 Sep 2013 19:40 Round 5 40,207 Los Pumas cayeron ante los All Blacks por 33 a 15 at urba.org.ar 27 Sep 2014 19:10 Round 5 37,000 All Blacks derrotaron a Los Pumas en La Plata y son campeones at lavoz.com.ar

Panorama

Concerts

Concerts at Estadio Ciudad de La PlataDateArtistTourAttendance 6 March 2004 Joan Manuel SerratSerrat en La Plata on El Dia, 5 March 2004 Serrat Sinfónico tour 7,000 27 Nov 2004 Los PiojosLos Piojos despiden el año on Rolling Stone Argentina Máquina de Sangre World Tour 13 Nov 2005 Indio SolariEl rock recuperó parte de su convocatoria on Rio Negro 45,00030 March, 2 and 3 April 2011U2U2 360° Tour 172,0798 October 2011Guns N' RosesChinese Democracy Tour 40,000 ±28 October 2011AerosmithBack On the Road Tour —13 November 2011Pearl JamPearl Jam Twenty Tour —20 November 2011Britney SpearsFemme Fatale Tour 21,7176 October 2013Black Sabbath13 Tour —29 and 30 March 2014MetallicaBy Request Tour 76,40718 January 2015Foo FightersSonic Highways World Tour 32,2417 November 2015Pearl JamPearl Jam 2015 Latin America Tour —7, 10 and 13 February 2016The Rolling StonesAmérica Latina Olé Tour 2016 155,18431 March and 1 April 2016ColdplayA Head Full of Dreams Tour 97,06917 and 19 May 2016Paul McCartneyOne On One Tour 97,7218 October 2016AerosmithRock 'N' Roll Rumble Tour 31,09720 May 2017Ed Sheeran÷ Tour 33,5841 October 2017Guns N' Roses, The WhoNot in This Lifetime... Tour 47,00010, 11 October 2017U2The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 86,46614 and 15 November 2017ColdplayA Head Full of Dreams Tour 98,19725 November 2017Bruno Mars24K Magic World Tour 49,20424 March 2018Depeche ModeGlobal Spirit Tour 47,2146 and 10 November 2018Roger WatersUs + Them Tour 80,69323 and 30 April, 7 May 2022La RengaAlejado de la Red —10 December 2022Abel Pintos —28 and 29 October 2023Tan BionicaLa Ultima Noche Mágica —21, 23 and 24 October 2026BTSArirang World Tour —

See also List of football stadiums in Argentina List of rugby union stadiums by capacity Lists of stadiums

References

External links

Estadio Único at stadiumguide.com