The National Stadium of Costa Rica (Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica) is one of San Jose's biggest tourist attractions. Replacing the former National Stadium that stood in the city's La Sabana Metropolitan Park, this huge sporting arena, which was a gift from the Chinese government, cost around $110 million to construct! Let's explore the stadium and find out what kinds of things visitors can see here!
With a capacity of 35,000, the National Stadium of Costa Rica is the largest entertainment venue in the country. Since it was first opened in March 2011, the venue has attracted some of the world's most popular musical performers, including Colombian pop singer Shakira, seminal grunge ensemble Pearl Jam and legendary rockers Judas Priest. The stadium has also hosted concerts by acts such as Juan Luis Guerra and Don Omar.
The stadium isn't just a concert venue, however. As a major arena, the National Stadium of Costa Rica is an ideal destination for sports fans, having hosted soccer matches between teams from China, Argentina and Costa Rica. A number of boxing events have also been held here, including a thrilling fight between homegrown heroine Hannah Gabriels and Melisenda Pérez.
It's hard to imagine the landscape of La Sabana Park before construction of the National Stadium of Costa Rica was completed. The site of the former National Stadium was little more than a dirt lot before work began on the state-of-the-art facility. Now, the stadium is the largest and most modern sporting and entertainment venue in the country.
To accommodate the 35,000 fans that pack the stadium for the soccer matches and concerts held here, the arena features three tiers of seating. Two gigantic television screens are installed at either end of the stadium to offer fans a close-up view of the action, and the facility also boasts a small sports museum, a hotel and a banquet hall.
If you're planning on visiting the capital of San Jose during your vacation to Costa Rica, a trip to the National Stadium of Costa Rica is a great way to experience some of the most exciting sporting events and concerts that the country has to offer.
Be advised, however, that although the stadium can accommodate 35,000 people, there aren't as many parking spots available, so if you're taking a rental car in Costa Rica, you might want to look elsewhere to park while you enjoy the show!
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