Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium (Spanish: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez) is an open-air multi-purpose stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Opened in 1974 for the XII Central American & Caribbean Games and renovated 2003 Pan American Games is the largest stadium in the Dominican Republic used mostly for football and track and field and as a music venue. The stadium has a sporting events' capacity of 27,000 people, though it has seen crowds of 35,000. For concerts, its stated capacity is 50,000 people.
It was formerly known as Estadio Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte, because of the sports complex where it is located (Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte), However, in 2005 it was named after the 400 m hurdles athlete Félix Sánchez after he won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.[2]
It served as home of the Dominican soccer teams Bauger FC and Atletico Pantoja and it's of one of the two stadium that served as home of the Dominican Republic national football team.[citation needed]
In February 1966, it began the construction of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic complex to host the XII Central American & Caribbean Games. Concluded in February 1974, the stadium was inaugurated with the name of Juan Pablo Duarte Stadium named after the founding father. It had a capacity of 22,000.[3] The stadium hosted the track & field events of the XII Central American & Caribbean Games between 27 February and 13 March 1974.[citation needed]
Between the 1980s and 1990s the stadium served for several events including concerts and religion celebration. 1997 the stadium served as venue of the first edition of the Latin Music Festival sponsored by the Dominican beer Presidente, Festival Presidente de la Musica Latina. The music festival was a commercial success, invited several international pop starts. The music festival returned in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2014 & 2017.[citation needed]
It was renovated for the 2003 Pan America Games to host the track & field events and the opening and closing ceremonies. It was equipped with 24,000 fixed seats and areas for special guests, press, dressing rooms and a cafeteria. It was inaugurated on 23 July 2003, by the president Hipolito Mejia and the renovation cost over US$6 million of dollars.[4] In August 2004, the stadium hosted a friendly game between the national team of Brazil and Haiti and it included the participation of soccer stars of Ronaldo and Ronhaldino.[5] In May 2005, the name of the stadium was official changed to Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium honoring the 400 m hurdles athlete Félix Sánchez for winning a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. In 2012, he won another medal on the same category at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[6][7]
During the 2000s and 2010s decades several international pop artists performed concerts at the stadium including Shakira, Coldplay, Daddy Yankee, Juan Luis Guerra, Luis Miguel, Ricardo Arjona, Maroon 5, Britney Spears.[citation needed]
It is set to host matches for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup including in the final.
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Estadio Juan Pablo Duarte Billboard.
Estadio Olimpico Santo Domingo Billboard.
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18°28′50″N 69°55′07″W / 18.480454°N 69.918662°W / 18.480454; -69.918662