Estadio George Capwell
Encyclopedia
Estadio George Capwell is a multi-purpose stadium
in Guayaquil
, Ecuador
. It is currently used mostly for football
matches and is the home stadium of Emelec
.
sports club, its founder, George Lewis Capwell, decided that it was time for the club to have its own baseball
stadium. In 1942, Guayaquil
's municipal authorities donated four city-blocks for the construction of the first private sports stadium in Ecuador
. A year later in 1943, Emelec's staff officially named and initiated the construction of the George Capwell Stadium.
The George Capwell Stadium opened its doors for the first time on October 21, 1945. The inaugural game was a baseball match between Emelec and Oriente, and George Capwell played as a catcher for the "Azules". Although Emelec's president did not like football and their stadium was not initially intended to be a football field, the first football match was held at the stadium soon after the inauguration. Emelec won 5 - 4 against an all-star team from the cities of Manta
and Bahía de Caráquez
.
The 1947 South American Championship
was held exclusively at George Capwell Stadium, and an undefeated Argentina
became South America's champion with an all-star team that included names like Alfredo Di Stefano
, Lostau, and Mendez. Ecuador
finished in 6th place.
After the birth of Guayaquil's Estadio Modelo, George Capwell Stadium was closed for many years because it became obsolete. In several occasions, it was almost destroyed for various projects that luckily for the club were never actually completed.
It was not until 1991, under the leadership of Nassib Nehme, that the George Capwell Stadium was reopened to become once again the house of Emelec. Since its reopening the stadium has been enlarged twice and a new and final change has been scheduled for 2011, to reach a final capacity of 45,000 spectators.
At the moment the official capacity of the stadium according to the FEF (Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol
) is 24,019 spectators.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. It is currently used mostly for football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches and is the home stadium of Emelec
Club Sport Emelec
Club Sport Emelec is a Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil that is best known for their professional football team. The football team plays in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of professional football in the country....
.
History
Several years after the creation of the Empresa Eléctrica del EcuadorEmpresa Eléctrica del Ecuador
Empresa Eléctrica del Ecuador or Emelec was the name of an Ecuadorian electric company based in the city of Guayaquil....
sports club, its founder, George Lewis Capwell, decided that it was time for the club to have its own baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
stadium. In 1942, Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
's municipal authorities donated four city-blocks for the construction of the first private sports stadium in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. A year later in 1943, Emelec's staff officially named and initiated the construction of the George Capwell Stadium.
The George Capwell Stadium opened its doors for the first time on October 21, 1945. The inaugural game was a baseball match between Emelec and Oriente, and George Capwell played as a catcher for the "Azules". Although Emelec's president did not like football and their stadium was not initially intended to be a football field, the first football match was held at the stadium soon after the inauguration. Emelec won 5 - 4 against an all-star team from the cities of Manta
Manta
Manta is a mid-sized city in Manabí Province, Ecuador. It is the second most populous city in the province, the fifth most populous in the country and, economically, the third most important city of Ecuador. Manta has existed since Pre-Columbian times. It was a trading post for the Mantas....
and Bahía de Caráquez
Bahía de Caráquez
La Villa de San Antonio de Caráquez, known simply as Bahía de Caráquez or Bahía, is a coastal city in the Ecuadorian province of Manabí. The city is located on a sandy peninsula on the country's western coast at the mouth of the Río Chone...
.
The 1947 South American Championship
South American Championship 1947
The 1947 South American Championship was the 20th South American Championship for national teams, and was organized by CONMEBOL. It marked the first time Ecuador hosted the tournament, which hosted all the matches in Estadio George Capwell in Guayaquil. Argentina won the tournament to obtain their...
was held exclusively at George Capwell Stadium, and an undefeated Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
became South America's champion with an all-star team that included names like Alfredo Di Stefano
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
, Lostau, and Mendez. Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
finished in 6th place.
After the birth of Guayaquil's Estadio Modelo, George Capwell Stadium was closed for many years because it became obsolete. In several occasions, it was almost destroyed for various projects that luckily for the club were never actually completed.
It was not until 1991, under the leadership of Nassib Nehme, that the George Capwell Stadium was reopened to become once again the house of Emelec. Since its reopening the stadium has been enlarged twice and a new and final change has been scheduled for 2011, to reach a final capacity of 45,000 spectators.
At the moment the official capacity of the stadium according to the FEF (Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol
Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol
The Ecuadorian Football Federation is the governing body of football in Ecuador. Its seat is in Guayaquil, and it organizes the country's various football competitions and oversees the Ecuadorian national team.-See also:*Ecuador national football team...
) is 24,019 spectators.