.jpg) The stadium in 2019 | |
| Full name | Rizal Memorial Track and Football |
|---|---|
| Location | Manila, Philippines |
| Coordinates | 14°33′48.25″N 120°59′31.20″E / 14.5634028°N 120.9920000°E / 14.5634028; 120.9920000 |
| Public transit |   Vito Cruz 5
6 7 14 17 23 24 25 27 34 38 40 42 48 49 53 P. Ocampo |
| Owner | City Government of Manila |
| Operator | Philippine Sports Commission |
| Capacity | 12,873 |
| Field size | 105x68 m |
| Surface | Limonta Sport artificial turf (FIFA-certified) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1934 |
| Renovated | 1953, 1981, 1991, 2005, 2011, 2019, 2021 |
| Architect | Juan Arellano |
| 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
Since the 1930s, it has hosted all major local football tournaments and some international matches. 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. 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. 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. 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, where the Philippine national team won 4-0 overall. However, the pitch (which was a natural grass) deteriorated again due to the number of football and rugby events, that led the PSC to convert it into an artificial turf in 2014. In 2015, its football pitch received the 2-star accreditation from FIFA, making it the first football pitch in the Philippines to have it.
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 New individual seats are to be installed in the spectator area of the stadium outside the main grandstand. The renovation also includes the upgrading of its rubberized track oval. The renovation will be funded from the ₱842.5 million given by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to the Philippine Sports Commission.
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. 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:
- 2012 and 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup Semifinals
- 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification Group E
- 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification
- 2023–24 AFC Champions League
- 2023–24 AFC Cup
AFF Championships
| Edition | Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup | 25 November 2016 | 20:00 UTC+8 |  Singapore
|
1–2 |  Indonesia
|
Group stage | 467 |
| 2022 AFF Championship | 23 December 2022 | 18:00 UTC+8 |  Philippines
|
5–1 |  Brunei
|
Group stage | 1,650 |
| 2 January 2023 | 20:30 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
1–2 | Indonesia
|
2,370 | ||
| 2024 ASEAN Championship | 12 December 2024 | 18:30 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
1–1 |  Myanmar
|
Group stage | 1,589 |
| 18 December 2024 | 21:00 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
1–1 |  Vietnam
|
3,346 | ||
| 27 December 2024 | 21:00 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
2–1 |  Thailand
|
Semifinals Leg 1 | 7,116 |
2022 AFF Women's Championship
| Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July 2022 | 16:00 UTC+8 | Singapore
|
0–0 |  Malaysia
|
Group stage | 235 |
| 19:00 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
1–0 |  Australia
|
1,408 | ||
| 6 July 2022 | 16:00 UTC+8 | Thailand
|
2–2 | Australia
|
207 | |
| 19:00 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
7–0 | Singapore
|
647 | ||
| 8 July 2022 | 16:00 UTC+8 | Australia
|
4–0 | Indonesia
|
||
| 19:00 UTC+8 | Malaysia
|
0–4 | Philippines
|
429 | ||
| 10 July 2022 | 16:00 UTC+8 | Singapore
|
1–4 | Australia
|
334 | |
| 19:00 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
4–1 | Indonesia
|
1,464 | ||
| 12 July 2022 | 16:00 UTC+8 | Thailand
|
1–0 | Philippines
|
2,923 | |
| 13 July 2022 | 19:00 UTC+8 | Vietnam
|
4–0 | Myanmar
|
157 | |
| 15 July 2022 | 16:00 UTC+8 | Thailand
|
2–0 | Myanmar
|
Semi-finals | |
| 20:00 UTC+8 | Vietnam
|
0–4 | Philippines
|
3,233 | ||
| 17 July 2022 | 16:00 UTC+8 | Myanmar
|
4–3 | Vietnam
|
Third place match | |
| 19:30 UTC+8 | Thailand
|
0–3 | Philippines
|
Final | 8,257 |
FIFA World Cup Qualification
| Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 November 2023 | 19:00 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
0–2 | Vietnam
|
Second round | 10,378 |
| 21 November 2023 | 19:00 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
1–1 | Indonesia
|
9,880 | |
| 26 March 2024 | 19:00 UTC+8 | Philippines
|
0–5 |  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.
Other purposes
Concert
See also: The Beatles' 1966 tour of Germany, Japan and the PhilippinesOn 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.
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.
| Date | Headlining Artist | Concert or Tour | Opening acts | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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). With the stadium being full, many other individuals who availed of the said program ended up sleeping and gathering outside.
See also
- List of football stadiums in the Philippines
- New Clark City Athletics Stadium
- Philippine Sports Stadium
- Biñan Football Stadium
- Panaad Stadium
- PFF National Training Center
Notes
- ^ 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.
References
- 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.
- "Estádios - Manila, Filipinas". Show de Bola (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- 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.
- ^ Solanoy, Lesmes (6 July 2011). "Unsung Heroes of Philippine Football". Go Archers. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- Flores, Celest R. (3 July 2011). "Fulltime: Philippine Azkals 4-0 Sri Lanka". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ 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.
- "Rizal Memorial Stadium Rolls Out A New Green Carpet for Philippine Football". E-Sports International. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- 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.
- ^ "2019 SEA Games: Rizal Memorial Stadium renovations in full swing". Rappler. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- "Venues to serve Philippine sports beyond 30th Southeast Asian Games". Spin.ph. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- 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 " 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.
- Sampayan, Jac (12 September 2019). "Will it beat the SEAG deadline? Inside the Rizal Memorial makeover". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- "Tenth Far Eastern Games 1934 (Manila)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- "Teams ready for RWC Qualifiers in Manila". Rugbyworldcup.com. 14 April 2012. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- "A Hard Day's Night in Manila". BeatlesNumber9.com. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- "LOOK: Stranded individuals cram inside Rizal Memorial Sports Complex". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- "Some LSIs slept on the streets as Rizal Memorial Stadium already full". www.msn.com. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
External links
- Rizal Memorial Stadium photo at WorldStadiums.com
| Preceded byStadium Merdeka Kuala Lumpur |
Asian Athletics Championships Venue 1993 |
Succeeded byGelora Bung Karno Stadium Jakarta |
| Preceded bySugathadasa Stadium Colombo |
Asian Athletics Championships Venue 2003 |
Succeeded byMunhak Stadium Incheon |
| Asian Games stadiums | |
|---|---|
| Summer | |
| Winter | |
| 2024–25 Philippines Football League venues | |
|---|---|
- Athletics (track and field) venues in the Philippines
- Football venues in the Philippines
- Stadiums of the Asian Games
- Sports venues in Manila
- Buildings and structures in Malate, Manila
- Art Deco architecture in the Philippines
- National stadiums
- Sports venues completed in 1934
- Juan M. Arellano buildings
- 1934 establishments in the Philippines
- Venues of the 1954 Asian Games
- Asian Games athletics venues
- Asian Games football venues
- Southeast Asian Games stadiums