Estadio Víctor Agustín Ugarte
Foto: Intihack · CC BY-SA 3.0 · zdroj
- Capacity
- 29,210
- Year opened
- 1992
- Club
- —
- Country
- Bolivia
Overview
About the stadium
Estadio Víctor Agustín Ugarte is the main football stadium of the Bolivian mining city of Potosí and one of the highest-altitude professional football grounds in the world. Sitting at roughly 3,890 metres above sea level, it stands even higher than the famous arenas of La Paz and Oruro, granting home sides a celebrated advantage from the thin mountain air.
Home of Real Potosí
The stadium is home to Real Potosí, who play in Bolivia's top division, and is shared with city rivals Nacional Potosí. It is named after Víctor Agustín Ugarte (1926–1995), a legendary centre-forward nicknamed "El Maestro," widely regarded as the greatest Bolivian footballer of all time and a member of the side that won the 1963 Copa América.
- Capacity: approximately 29,210 spectators
- Altitude: ~3,890 m above sea level
- Home clubs: Real Potosí, Nacional Potosí
- City: Potosí, Bolivia
From the stands surrounding the beloved pitch, spectators look out over the skyline of the historic silver city beneath the towering Cerro Rico mountain.
History
Journey through time
The stadium's history dates back to 1992, when it opened under the name Estadio San Clemente. From the start it was conceived as a modern football venue for the growing club scene of Potosí, one of the highest large cities on Earth.
From San Clemente to Ugarte
Around the year 2000 it was renamed Estadio Mario Mercado Vaca Guzmán following structural modifications. Its most dramatic transformation came in 2008, when a major renovation costing roughly 29 million added a roof running around the entire bowl and expanded the capacity from an earlier figure of about 13,000.
- 1992 – opened as Estadio San Clemente
- around 2000 – renamed Estadio Mario Mercado Vaca Guzmán
- 2008 – major renovation and adoption of the current name honouring Víctor Agustín Ugarte
The new name was chosen as a tribute to a son of the Potosí department whose artistry on the pitch raised the profile of Bolivian football onto the international stage. Since then, the ground has remained the beating heart of the city's footballing life.
Atmosphere
Matchday
The atmosphere at Estadio Víctor Agustín Ugarte is inseparable from its extreme altitude. Visiting teams arriving from lower-lying cities often struggle with shortness of breath and fatigue, while the home players, accustomed to the thin air, can maintain their tempo to the final whistle.
The advantage of thin air
At around 3,890 metres, the ball travels faster and breathing is laborious — a factor that makes Potosí one of the most feared destinations in South American football and one that repeatedly sparks debate about the fairness of playing at such heights.
- A roaring home crowd driving Real Potosí forward
- A tangible altitude advantage as visitors visibly slow down
- A mountain panorama with Cerro Rico as the backdrop
Supporters in club colours, chants echoing through the cold mountain air, and the knowledge that the opposition is gasping for breath create a unique environment found almost nowhere else on Earth.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Potosí lies in south-western Bolivia and is one of the highest cities in the world. Travelling here demands careful preparation, above all because of the altitude to which the body must adjust.
Getting there and altitude warnings
Most visitors reach Potosí by bus from Sucre (~3 hours) or from La Paz, or via the nearest airport. The stadium sits within the city and is reachable by taxi or on foot from the centre.
- Acclimatisation: allow a day or two to rest before any strenuous activity
- Altitude sickness: drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and heavy exertion on arrival
- Warm clothing: mountain evenings can be cold even in summer
- Connections: buses from Sucre and La Paz, taxis around the city
A matchday visit pairs well with exploring the historic silver city of Potosí, whose colonial centre and the Cerro Rico mountain are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Map
Where to find the stadium
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Potosí, Bolivia
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