Atanasio Girardot Sports Complex

The Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot has grown into one of the most important sporting complexes in Colombia. As a grouping of several distinct venues, it reflects the long-standing role of Medellín as a major centre of elite sport in the country.

Construction and opening

The complex developed as a sporting facility serving a broad range of disciplines, gradually expanding with its individual venues. Today it includes the main Estadio Atanasio Girardot, the Medellín Sports Coliseum and further stadiums, which together form a cohesive sporting infrastructure for the city.

Major renovations

The complex's individual venues have been modernised and supplemented over time to meet the requirements of elite competition. Bringing several facilities together within a single complex has enabled Medellín to host diverse sporting events -- from athletics through indoor sports to football -- in one place.

Notable moments

The main Estadio Atanasio Girardot is among the best-known football venues in Colombia, and the complex as a whole is bound up with the rich sporting life of Medellín. Its individual facilities have served a range of sporting disciplines, and the complex has become a firm part of the sporting identity of Colombia's second-largest city.

The atmosphere at the Atanasio Girardot complex is closely tied to the sporting passion of Medellín, a city renowned for its football culture. The complex's main stadium comes alive during major fixtures with the loud, colourful support that is among the most distinctive in Colombia.

Fan culture

Medellín is home to a strong footballing tradition, and the Estadio Atanasio Girardot witnesses passionate support full of singing, flags and chants. The sports complex as a whole serves a broad range of disciplines, drawing a varied audience -- from followers of athletics and indoor sports to football fans, who create a unique backdrop for elite events.

Big matches

The complex's main stadium, the Estadio Atanasio Girardot, hosts significant football matches and ranks among the traditional venues of Colombian football. Beyond football, the individual facilities of the complex allow it to stage athletics competitions and indoor sports, making it a setting for a diverse array of major sporting events in Medellín.

Atanasio Girardot Sports Complex lies in Medellín, Colombia's second-largest city. As a cohesive sporting complex grouping several venues, it is well connected to the city's transport network and is one of the main landmarks of the city's sporting life.

How to get there

• By metro: Medellín has a modern metro system, one of the most convenient ways to travel within the city.
• Taxi / ride-sharing: Taxi services and ride-hailing apps are common in Medellín and convenient for visitors.
• Event-day planning: Allow extra time, as traffic around major sporting events tends to be heavy.

Tickets and tours

Tickets for events at the complex are available through the official sales channels of the organisers of each sporting event. As the complex groups several venues together, the programme of events and access vary according to the specific schedule. The availability of public tours depends on the events being held.

Visitor tips

• When to arrive: Come early; the atmosphere around the complex begins well before the start.
• What to bring: Identification and your ticket; expect security checks at the gates.
• What to see nearby: The complex includes a coliseum and further stadiums -- useful when attending several sporting events.
• Atmosphere: For the strongest experience, plan a football match at the main stadium.