Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos

(Redirected fromEstadio Nacional de Chile)

Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos(originally known asEstadio Nacional) is thenational stadiumofChile,and is located in theÑuñoadistrict ofSantiago.The stadium, located into theEstadio Nacional Sports Park,[2]is the largest in Chile with an official capacity of 46,190. It is part of a 62hectaresporting complex which also featurestennis courts,an aquatics center, a moderngymnasium,a velodrome, a BMX circuit, and an assistant ground/warmup athletics track.

Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos
El Nacional, El Coloso de Ñuñoa
Map
Former namesEstadio Nacional (1938–2008)
LocationAv. Grecia 2001,Estadio Nacional Sports Park,Ñuñoa,Santiago,Chile
Coordinates33°27′52″S70°36′38″W/ 33.46444°S 70.61056°W/-33.46444; -70.61056
Public transitatEstadio Nacional
OwnerMunicipality ofÑuñoa
OperatorChiledeportes
Capacity46,190[1]
Record attendance85,268 (Universidad de ChileUniversidad Católica,29 December 1962)
Field size105 m x 68 m
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1937;88 years ago(1937)
OpenedDecember 3, 1938;86 years ago(1938-12-03)
Renovated2009–10
Expanded1962
ReopenedSeptember 12, 2010;14 years ago(2010-09-12)
Construction cost$18,000,000
ArchitectFrancisco Romero
Tenants
Chile national football team
Universidad de Chile
Palestino
Santiago Morning
Deportes Recoleta
Deportes Melipilla
Real Juventud San Joaquín
Municipal Santiago
Gremio de Santiago
Selknam (rugby club)

Construction began in February 1937 and the stadium was inaugurated on December 3, 1938. Thearchitecturewas based on theOlympiastadioninBerlin,Germany.The stadium was one of the venues for theFIFA World Cup in 1962,and hostedthe finalwhereBrazildefeatedCzechoslovakia3–1. In 1948, the stadium hosted the matches of theSouth American Championship of Champions,the competition that inspired the creation of theUEFA Champions League[3]and of theCopa Libertadores.[4]The stadium was notoriously used as amass imprisonment,torture,and extrajudicial execution facility by thePinochetdictatorship following the1973 military coup.

In 2009, a complete modernization plan was unveiled for the stadium and surrounding facilities. PresidentMichelle Bacheletsaid it would become the most modern stadium in South America.[5]By adding a roof above the stands, Bachelet promised the stadium would become an indoor venue, something that was never completed.[6]The stadium was the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, and football venue for the2014 South American Games,and hosted the opening ceremonies and the athletics during the2023 Pan American Games.The stadium also hosted the opening ceremonies of the2023 Parapan American Games.

History

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The stadium was built on former farmland, donated in 1918 by landowner and philanthropist Jose Domingo Cañas. The first sporting event in the new stadium took place on 3 December 1938, with a friendly game between the Chilean clubColo-Coloand Brazilian clubSão Cristóvão.Colo-Colo won 6–3.

It has hosted all matches of the1941,1945and1955South American Football Championships, and several matches of the1991and2015 Copa América.

The stadium hosted the final stages of the1959 World Basketball Championship.It was held outdoors because the intended venue, theMetropolitan Indoor Stadium,was not ready in time.

In the early 1960s, under the government ofJorge Alessandri,the stadium was expanded to host the1962 FIFA World Cup.The main change was that the velodrome that surrounded the stadium was replaced by galleries, thereby increasing its original capacity to around 95,000.

The stadium hosted group stage games betweenItaly,West Germany,Switzerlandand Chile, including a notoriously ill-tempered and violent clash between Italy and Chile which became known as theBattle of Santiago.Also held at the ground were a quarter-final, a semi-final, the third place play-off, and the final, in which Brazil was crowned world champions for the second time. In the third-place play-off, Chile defeated Yugoslavia 1–0, marking the team's greatest success in international football.

Today, the ground serves as the home field for both the national team and the first-division clubUniversidad de Chile.It also hosts non-sporting events, such as political celebrations, charity events and concerts.

The stadium has been used since 1995 to 2022 as the final leg of theTelethonwithDon Francisco,a 28-hour telecast. The stadium holds up to 100,000 people for this annual event with the Jumbotron showing the required amount to reach the goal and its current donation. Exceptions were in 2014 and 2020; the first one was canceled due to bad weather conditions and the second due to the protection afterthe social outbreak.

On July 5, 2008, the stadium was officially renamedEstadio NacionalJulio Martínez Prádanos,in honor of a recently deceased sports journalist.[7]

Use as a detention center

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Estadio Nacional de Chile after the1973 Chilean coup d'état

After thecoup d'étatof September 11, 1973, that ousted PresidentSalvador Allende,the stadium began to be used as a detention facility. An article in theHarvard Review of Latin Americareported that "there were over 80 detention centers in Santiago alone" and gave details of the National Stadium and others.[8]

Over 40,000 people spent time in the compound during thejuntaregime. Twelve thousand detainees were interned between September 11 and November 7.[9]The field and gallery were used to hold men, while women were held in theswimming poolchanging rooms and associated buildings. Locker rooms and corridors were all used as prison facilities while interrogations were carried out in thevelodrome.[10]The Red Cross estimated that 7,000 prisoners occupied the stadium at one point, of whom about 300 were foreigners. According to the testimonies of survivors collected by the humanitarian group, detainees were tortured and threatened with death by shooting. Some were actually shot or taken to unknown locations for execution. Pinochet and other members of the junta would often take turns hollering and swearing at the detainees over the stadium'spublic address system.

FIFAPresidentSir Stanley Rousinsisted theUSSR teamplaya World Cup qualifierat the time. They however refused to do so andChilequalified automatically for the1974 World Cup,where they failed to advance from a group containing bothWestandEast GermanyandAustralia.

The use of the stadium during the coup d'état is depicted in the 2002documentary filmEstadio Nacional,directed and produced byCarmen Luz Parot,and in the 2007 Swedish filmThe Black Pimpernel,which is based on the story of Swedish ambassador in ChileHarald Edelstamand his heroic actions to protect the lives of over 1,200 people during and after the military coup.The Black Pimpernelwas shot on location in Santiago. The 1982 filmMissingby Greek filmmakerCosta-Gavrasdepicts the September 11, 1973, coup d'état and execution of American journalistsCharles HormanandFrank Teruggiat the Estadio Nacional.

In 2011, Chile set aside a section of the stadium, a section of old wooden bleachers called"Escotilla 8",to honor the prisoners who were detained there. It is surrounded by a barbed wire fence.[11]

2009–2010 renovation

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Marcelo Salasfarewell match, June 2, 2009

On June 15, 2009, PresidentMichelle Bacheletannounced several infrastructure improvements in order to modernize the stadium and its immediate facilities. Out of the total 24 billionpesos(US$42.3 million) contemplated in the plan, 20 billion pesos (US$35.3 million) are destined to bring the stadium up to modern standards. The changes include, a roof covering all the seats, which will also provide illumination; installation of seats around the entire stadium, lowering the current capacity to 47,000; a new state-of-the-artscoreboard;a 2.5 m deep 2 m wide pit will separate the track and the spectators to replace the fence; and several other changes. Because the stadium is anational monumentthe façade will remain the same, with the roof structure placed on top, without modifying the exterior. The stadium was closed on August 15, 2009. The stadium was scheduled to be reinaugurated in March 2010 to stage a double friendly match between Chile andNorth KoreaandPanama,but the works were not finished on time. The construction of the roof has since been postponed by the government of PresidentSebastián Piñeradue to financial constraints brought about by theFebruary 27, 2010 earthquake.Although the stadium suffered minor damage from the earthquake, it partially opened to host the match betweenC.F. Universidad de ChileandC.D. GuadalajaraforCopa Libertadores 2010.It was officially re-inaugurated on September 12, 2010, during Chile's bicentennial festivities.

2014 South American Games renovation

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On September 12, 2010, during the Chilean bicentennial festivities, PresidentSebastián Piñeraannounced that the capacity of the stadium will be increased so as to reach 70,000 seats for the2014 South American Gamesthat will take place in Santiago.[12]The works are expected to begin in 2012.[13]

On June 3, 2011, further renovation plans were announced by the government. The complete area surrounding the stadium will be turned into a park to be called "Citizenry Park" (Parque de la Ciudadanía). Over 70% of the new 64-hectare park will consist of green areas, and the rest will include new infrastructure such as a lagoon or restaurants. The new park is expected to be ready for the 2014 games. New sporting venues will be built for the 2014 games, such as two modern gymnasiums, a new heated pool forsynchronized swimming,a renovated velodrome and an expanded CAR, which will also serve as residence of the future Ministry of Sports. The only venues that will remain are the stadium, the main tennis court, the velodrome, the CAR, the athletics track, the skating track, the hockey field and thecaracolas.[14]

Attendances

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The highest attendance for a match at Estadio Nacional to date is 85,268, for aPrimera Divisionmatch played on December 29, 1962;Universidad de ChiledefeatedUniversidad Catolica4–1.[citation needed]In the 2016–17 season,Universidad de Chiledrew an average home league attendance of 30,041 for the Apertura and 33,466 for the Clausura.[15]

1962 FIFA World Cup

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Estadio Nacional hosted ten games of the 1962 FIFA World Cup, including the final matches.

Date Time (UTC−04) Team No. 1 Res. Team No. 2 Round Attendance
30 May 1962 15:00 Chile 3–1 Switzerland Group 3 65,006
31 May 1962 15:00 West Germany 0–0 Italy Group 3 65,440
2 June 1962 15:00 Chile 2–0 Italy Group 3 66,057
3 June 1962 15:00 West Germany 2–1 Switzerland Group 3 64,922
6 June 1962 15:00 West Germany 2–0 Chile Group 3 67,224
7 June 1962 15:00 Italy 3–0 Switzerland Group 3 59,828
10 June 1962 14:30 Yugoslavia 1–0 West Germany Quarter-finals 63,324
13 June 1962 14:30 Brazil 4–2 Chile Semi-finals 76,594
16 June 1962 14:30 Chile 1–0 Yugoslavia Third place play-off 66,697
17 June 1962 14:30 Brazil 3–1 Czechoslovakia Final 68,679

Concerts

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In 2008,Madonnawas the first international artist to perform two concerts in two consecutive days in the stadium since 1990. Pictured, the second show of herSticky & Sweet Tourin the venue.
TheU2 360° Tourbecame the biggest stage structure built inside the stadium to date.

The stadium hosts many international and national concerts during the year. In 1977, Spanish singerJulio Iglesiaswas the first musical act and first solo artist to perform in the stadium.[16]Years later, in 1989,Rod Stewartperformed what is considered the first proper rock concert by an international artist in the venue, drawing 70,000 fans, with the show being broadcast on TV throughout the country.[17]After that, the city started being included in many tours from international artists, using several facilities from the Stadium park. In 2001, Chilean bandLos Prisionerosbecame the first act to perform two consecutive days in the stadium, whileMadonnais considered the first international artist to achieve the same in 2008. In 2022, Puerto Rican starDaddy Yankeebecame the first act to sell out three concerts in the venue on a single day,[18]while British bandColdplaybecame the first act to schedule three and four consecutive concerts as part of the same tour.[19][20]In 2023, Chilean bandLos Bunkersbecame the second local act to book two consecutive concerts in the venue, after Los Prisioneros achieved the same in 2001.[21]In 2024, Colombian singerKarol Gbecame the first solo female act to sell out three consecutive concerts in the venue.[22]

Recordings of concerts at the stadium have been commercially released. The show of Cuban folk singerSilvio Rodríguezin March 1990 was released on a 2CD set titledSilvio Rodríguez en Chile,while both concerts ofLos Prisionerosin late 2001 were released on cassette and CD asEstadio Nacional,and on VHS and DVD asLo Estamos Pasando Muy Bien.English heavy metal bandIron Maidenrecorded their show in the venue duringThe Final Frontier World Tourin April 2011. The show was released on CD, LP, DVD and Blu-ray asEn Vivo!in March 2012.[23][24]

The following is a list of concerts, showing date, artist or band, tour, opening acts and attendance, separated by decade.

Notes
  1. ^abcThis show took place on the adjacent Tennis Court.
  2. ^abcThe David Bowie, Bryan Adams and Eric Clapton concerts on 27, 28 and 29 September 1990 were promoted as part of the Rock In Chile Festival, but are considered part of their own tours.
  3. ^abcdefghijThis show took place on the adjacent National Velodrome.
  4. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuThis show took place on the adjacent Racing Track.
  5. ^abThe David Bowie and Erasure concerts on 5 and 6 November 1997 were promoted as part of the Santiago Music Rock Festival, but are considered part of their own tours.
  6. ^The Lenny Kravitz concert on 9 March 2005 was originally announced to take place on 10 March, but it was rescheduled due to logistical issues.[27]
  7. ^The Shakira concert on 11 March 2011 was promoted as part of the Pop Fest, but is considered part of its own tour.[28]
  8. ^The Foo Fighters concert on 15 January 2015 was originally scheduled to take place in the main field, but it was moved to the Athletic track for logistic reasons.[29]
  9. ^This show took place on the adjacent Sports Complex.
  10. ^The Ricardo Arjona concert on 28 September 2018 was originally scheduled to take place in the main field, but it was moved to the Athletic track for logistic reasons.[30]
  11. ^abThis concert will take place in the Estadio Nacional Park facilities.
  • A concert by American artistMichael Jacksonon October 21, part of hisDangerous World Tour,was cancelled on the same day due to health problems.[31]Another performance on 23 October 1993 went on as scheduled.
  • A concert by American BandMaroon 5,part of their2020 Tour,was originally scheduled to take place at the Stadium on 28 February 2020, but it was moved to theEstadio Bicentenario de La Floridakeeping the same date.[32]
  • A concert by Argentinian bandSoda Stereo,part of their Gracias Totales - Soda Stereo concert series, was originally scheduled to take place at the Stadium on 7 March 2020, before being rescheduled several times during the pandemic, being ultimately moved to theEstadio Monumental David Arellanoon 3 May 2022.[33]
  • A concert by American heavy metal bandMetallica,part of theirWorldWired Tour,was originally scheduled to take place at the Stadium on 15 April 2020, before being rescheduled several times during the pandemic, being ultimately moved to theClub Hípico,and made part of their2022 Tour.[34][35]
  • A concert by Canadian recording artistJustin Bieber,part of hisJustice World Tour,was scheduled on 7 September 2022, before being cancelled the day before due to Bieber proritizing his health.[36][37]

Capacity

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The stadium was built with an original capacity of 48,000 spectators in 1937. At the time, some considered it a "white elephant"because it was thought that it could never be filled. The term also alluded to the charges of corruption against the administration ofArturo Alessandri,which oversaw the stadium's costly construction.[38]

For the1962 FIFA World Cup,seating capacity was increased to 74,000 with overflow areas allowing for a total of more than 80,000 people, by eliminating the cycling track that was moved to another location. Over the years, seating capacity was reduced to keep escape routes clear and prevent accidents.

For the2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics,the installation of individual seats was required, which reduced capacity to 66,000 spectators. This requirement ensured that the stadium could not exceed capacity, as seen with the visit ofPope John Paul IIin 1987 (believed to be attended by more than 90,000 people, though no accurate measurement could be taken as attendance was free, with no control), or the closing of the Telethon. The official capacity of the stadium as of 2014 is 48,665.[39]

References

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  1. ^"Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos".estadioseguro.gob.cl.12 October 2024.
  2. ^Mondaca, Gabriela (19 July 2024)."Parque Estadio Nacional: el nuevo pulmón verde de la RM abre sus puertas"[Estadio Nacional Park: the new green lung of the Metropolitan Region opens its gates].La Tercera(in Spanish). Copesa.Retrieved22 July2024.
  3. ^Globo EsporteTV Programme, Brazil, May 10, 2015:Especial: Liga dos Campeões completa 60 anos, e Neymar ajuda a contar essa história.Accessed on December 6th 2015. In this interview to the Brazilian sports TV programme Globo Esporte,Jacques Ferran(the creator of the European Champions Cup) states that the South American Championship of Champions was his inspiration for the creation of the European continental competition. Ferran's speech goes from 5:02 to 6:51 in the video.Archived2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine
  4. ^"Copa Libertadores. Historia".www.conmebol.com.CONMEBOL. 24 January 2015.
  5. ^"Estadio Nacional costará US$ 42 millones y la" Roja "se va al Monumental".La Tercera(in Spanish). 2009-06-16. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-06-11.Retrieved2009-06-16.
  6. ^"Bachelet confirmó que Estadio Nacional será techado y sin rejas".15 June 2009.
  7. ^"Publicada Ley que denomina Julio Martínez al Estadio Nacional de Santiago – Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile"(in Spanish). Bcn.cl. 29 October 2008.Retrieved2011-06-03.
  8. ^"Harvard Review of Latin America: Chile's National Stadium, with details on several detention centers".Drclas.harvard.edu. Archived fromthe originalon August 11, 2011.Retrieved2011-06-03.
  9. ^"Chile Audio Visual".Consejodelacultura.cl. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-07.Retrieved2011-06-03.
  10. ^Carmen Luz Parot, 2002,Estadio Nacional. Documental(National Stadium Documentary). Produced bySello Alerce,Chile, 2002.
  11. ^"The Soccer Match That Should Have Never Been Played".medium.com. 20 April 2014.Retrieved2017-11-29.
  12. ^"La Tercera Edición Impresa".Diario.latercera.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-03.Retrieved2011-06-03.
  13. ^"La Tercera Edición Impresa".Diario.latercera.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-03.Retrieved2011-06-03.
  14. ^"Parque del Estadio Nacional tendrá una laguna, restaurantes y cafés | Santiago | La Tercera Edición Impresa".Diario.latercera.com. 1990-01-01. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-21.Retrieved2011-06-03.
  15. ^"Primera División 2016/2017 Clausura – Attendance".worldfootball.net.22 December 2018.
  16. ^Vergara, Claudio (22 September 2023)."Cuando Julio Iglesias orquestó el primer megaevento chileno en el Estadio Nacional"[When Julio Iglesias orchestrated Chile's first mega-event at the National Stadium].La Tercera(in Spanish).Copesa.Retrieved6 May2024.
  17. ^Muñoz, Héctor (7 March 2023)."Rod Stewart y el primer mega concierto en Chile"[Rod Stewart and the first mega-concert in Chile].Futuro.Ibero Americana Radio Chile.Retrieved6 May2024.
  18. ^"Histórico: Daddy Yankee agotó sus tres shows en el Estadio Nacional"[Historic: Daddy Yankee sold out his three shows at the National Stadium].Radio Cooperativa.Compañía Chilena de Comunicaciones S.A. 19 May 2022.Retrieved6 May2024.
  19. ^Ramírez, Natacha (2022-04-07)."Coldplay anuncia tercer concierto en Chile: Por primera vez una banda realizará tres shows seguidos en el Estadio Nacional"[Coldplay announces third concert in Chile: For the first time a band will perform three consecutive shows in the National Stadium].El Mercurio(in Spanish).Retrieved2023-01-27.
  20. ^Retamal, Felipe (2022-05-23)."Coldplay marca récord y suma cuarto show en el Estadio Nacional"[Coldplay sets record and adds fourth show at Estadio Nacional].La Tercera(in Spanish).Copesa.Retrieved2023-01-27.
  21. ^Vergara, Claudio (2023-09-05)."Los Bunkers fijan segundo show en el Estadio Nacional e igualan la marca de Los Prisioneros"[Los Bunkers set second show at Estadio Nacional and match Los Prisioneros' record].La Tercera(in Spanish).Retrieved2023-09-05.
  22. ^"Karol G: la primera mujer en llenar tres Estadios Nacionales seguidos se presenta hoy en Chile"[Karol G: the first woman to fill three National Stadiums in a row performs today in Chile].El Mostrador(in Spanish). La Plaza S.A. 19 April 2024.Retrieved26 April2024.
  23. ^"Iron Maiden En Chile, 60.000 aficionados disfrutaron del espectáculo".YouTube.11 April 2011.Retrieved2012-04-22.
  24. ^"Iron Maiden To Release 'En Vivo!' Concert Blu-Ray, Two-DVD Set And Double Soundtrack Album".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-09-09.Retrieved2012-01-17.
  25. ^"Jet".Johnson Publishing Company. 6 December 1993.
  26. ^"Luismi suena fuerte".La Nación.30 November 1999.Retrieved14 May2019.
  27. ^"Concierto de Lenny Kravitz en Chile se reprogramó para el 9 de marzo"[Lenny Kravitz concert in Chile rescheduled for March 9th].Radio Cooperativa.Compañía Chilena de Comunicaciones S.A. 21 January 2005.Retrieved8 May2024.
  28. ^"Pop Fest reveló programación del festival que encabeza Shakira"[Pop Fest unveils lineup for festival headlined by Shakira].Radio Cooperativa(in Spanish). Compañía Chilena de Comunicaciones. 7 March 2011.Retrieved3 October2022.
  29. ^"Confirman que Foo Fighters se presentará en Pista Atlética del Estadio Nacional"[Foo Fighters Confirmed to Perform at the National Stadium Athletic Track].Radio Bío-Bío(in Spanish). Bío-Bío Comunicaciones. 9 December 2014.Retrieved17 September2022.
  30. ^"Show de Ricardo Arjona se traslada a la Pista Atlética"[Ricardo Arjona show moves to the Athletic Track].Radio Cooperativa(in Spanish). Compañía Chilena de Comunicaciones S.A. 6 September 2018.Retrieved17 September2022.
  31. ^Rojas, Felipe (23 October 2018)."El extraño ambiente que marcó el primer recital suspendido de Jackson en Chile"[The strange atmosphere that marked Jackson's first cancelled concert in Chile].La Tercera(in Spanish).Copesa.Retrieved17 September2022.
  32. ^"Concierto de Maroon 5 se traslada del Estadio Nacional al Bicentenario de La Florida"[Maroon 5 concert moves from the National Stadium to the Bicentenario de La Florida].La Tercera(in Spanish). December 3, 2019.RetrievedMarch 13,2020.
  33. ^"Definitivo: show Gracias Totales homenaje a Soda Stereo se cambia al Estadio Monumental y en nueva fecha"[Definitive: Gracias Totales - Soda Stereo tribute show moves to Estadio Monumental on a new date].La Tercera(in Spanish).Copesa.4 April 2022.Retrieved4 April2022.
  34. ^"Concierto de Metallica en Chile ya tendría lugar tras polémica por cancelación del show en el Estadio Nacional"[Metallica concert in Chile would have a venue after controversy over the cancellation of the show at the National Stadium].ADN Radio Chile(in Spanish).Ibero Americana Radio Chile.12 April 2022.Retrieved2 October2022.
  35. ^"Definitivo: Metallica tocará en el Club Hípico y mantiene la fecha de su show"[Definitive: Metallica will play at Club Hipico and keeps the date of their show.].La Tercera(in Spanish).Copesa.15 April 2022.Retrieved2 October2022.
  36. ^DeSantis, Rachel (September 6, 2022)."Justin Bieber Postpones Remaining Tour Dates to Make His Health the 'Priority Right Now'".People.Dotdash Meredith.RetrievedSeptember 6,2022.
  37. ^@justicetour (September 15, 2022)."Justice World Tour Announcement"– viaInstagram.
  38. ^Brenda Elsey, Citizens and Sportsmen: Futbol and Politics in Twentieth Century Chile (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2011)
  39. ^"Estadio Nacional de Chile".The Stadium Guide.10 September 2013.Retrieved31 July2015.
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Preceded by South American Championship
Finals Venue

1941
Succeeded by
Preceded by FIBA World Cup
Final Venue

1959
Succeeded by
Ginásio do Maracanãzinho
Rio de Janeiro
Preceded by FIFA World Cup
Final Venue

1962
Succeeded by
Preceded by Copa América
Final Round Matches

1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by Davis Cup
Final Venue

1976
Succeeded by
Preceded by Copa América
Final Venue

2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Copa Libertadores
Final Venue

2019
Succeeded by
TBD
TBD
Preceded by Pan American Games
Opening and Closing Ceremonies

2023
Succeeded by
TBD
TBD

33°27′52″S70°36′38″W/ 33.46444°S 70.61056°W/-33.46444; -70.61056