By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
MANILA, Philippines — With a 15,000 to 18,000 sitting capacity, the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City is the country’s only venue fit to host major international football tournaments.
If plans push through, there could be another one.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) said it is looking at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City as the other venue except that the place has to be upgraded to meet international standard especially in the matter of sitting capacity.
PFF president Mariano Araneta said to host at least Southeast Asian level tournament, a football stadium should accommodate at least 15,000.
The Philsports Arena falls short of that standard as it can accommodate only 10,000.
Araneta said the International Football Federation has offered to help the Philippines build another stadium that can meet international standard, but with one condition: The venue must be used exclusively for football.
In this regard, FIFA said that if Philippine sports officials can accept the condition, it was willing to give the football association as much as $500,000 (about P21.5 million) to realize the project.
Araneta said he will open talks with the Philippine Sports Commision regarding the proposal. The PSC operates the Philsports complex as well as the Rizal Memorial complex and some other venues.
“FIFA can only provide us that grant if ULTRA (fomer name of PhilSports) will be used exclusively for the football and not for other sports,” Araneta said yesterday. “So, for everything to happen we have to talk to the PSC about it.”
Araneta will meet PSC chairman Richie Garcia today when Garcia presides a meeting with the 41 heads of the national sports association.
Manila Bulletin
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OMFG!!!
ReplyDeleteA dream come true for football fans!
Did anyone ever imagine that a few wins in the Suzuki cup can make a wave as big as this?
What do you mean "If plans push through, there could be another one" ? Only an idiot would reject this offer.
ReplyDeleteBut I have a feeling that they will just opt to upgrade Panaad. Please don't. Upgrade Panaad, but build another one so we have 2 good stadia.
the grant is around 21.5 million pesos, its too small.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am amazed by how many foreign entities are willing to help us improve our football all of a sudden by giving us grants, etc. Our recent success is paying dividends that will make a lasting impression beyond just the immediate future.
ReplyDeleteTwo things though. I am a football fan but I am also a sports fan as well. I used to watch football and other events at the old ULTRA field a long time ago which was convenient since it was walking distance from where I used to live.
From what I understand Philsports is the only remaining venue where they have an international track and field oval. Rizal Memorial is tearing theirs down to make it into an exclusively football stadium. Where will track and field athletes train and play when we tear down this stadia for them?
The PSC and the national government should use this funds and allocate funds of their own to build a brand new national stadium with at least 40,000 capacity instead possibly in Clark where there is space to do so. It seems to me that the govt. likes to talk about helping our sports associations without allocating the funds to build them. We need a bigger stadium than just 15000 capacity.
Good luck. It is tough to justify a 20,000 seat football only stadium. Maybe having the stadiums would change the whole culture of Filipino football. Football would be a sport that you play, and go to watch, and not just something you read about or watch on TV. I guess we have to hope that if they build it. people will come.
ReplyDeleteAs the President said , if countries like Laos and Cambodia who are poorer than us have stadiiums like this, why can't we?
ReplyDeleteThis is just me, but I'd rather fix up Rizal. (And Tear up that MOA with DLSU.) Leave ultra to track & field.
ReplyDeleteOr better yet, look at MOA or ASEANA. Lots of space there.
as much as i like to have a football-only stadium i dont think its right to take ULTRA away from track and field.
ReplyDeletePAGCOR had a plan for Corazon Aquino National Stadium in Bagong Nayon Pilipino near MOA, its supposed to be completed by 2015 and will become the biggest stadium in SEA. unfortunately, i think it was shelved.
let us unite and encouraged PAGCOR and pnoy to go ahead
in building that stadium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagcor_City
There doesn't seem to be any development in the renovation of Rizal Memorial football stadium so they probably junked it. If so, then they probably haven't torn up the track yet and they could decide to upgrade ULTRA.
ReplyDeletesoccer sucks. bakit nag-aabala pa kayo sa boring na sport na yan.
ReplyDeleteBASKETBALL PA RIN.
At first I didnt like our Leader but these improvements is brought by his governance. More money came because of the fact that investors trust his leadership and theres no doubt about country progress in this sport as long as he still sits there.
ReplyDeleteI hoope we can have more stadiums but I hope the ones in Bacolod, Cebu and neighboring province would be the first priority. Why? These are the safest and the happiest places to be.