Atanasio Girardot Stadium opened on 19 March 1953, and — contrary to what almost every visitor assumes — it is not named after a footballer: Atanasio Girardot was an Antioquian military hero of the wars of independence. It started with room for about 34,000 people and today holds more than 46,000. It is a rare case in world football: **the city’s two professional clubs share the same home**. Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín both play here, and the rivalry is enormous — the *clásico paisa* splits the city into green and red — yet the stadium belongs to both. On matchday you feel it blocks before you arrive: Carrera 70 becomes an emotional extension of the stands, full of jerseys, music and street vendors selling everything imaginable. And the stadium is only the centre of something bigger: the **Atanasio Girardot sports complex** gathers venues for athletics, swimming, baseball, tennis, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and combat sports. It was transformed for the 2010 South American Games and hosted FIFA U-20 World Cup matches the following year. But the most *paisa* thing about it isn’t the big events: it’s coming on any ordinary day and finding it full of people running, swimming, training or practising cheerleading in the open areas — much of it through free public programmes run by INDER, the city’s sports authority.
What to see & do
1. The stadium and its atmosphere
The façade, the club murals and — if you land on a matchday — the full ritual: fans, music and La 70 simmering from early on.
2. The sports complex in action
Pools, arenas, tracks and courts in real use. This is not an events venue: it’s community sport, every single day.
3. Carrera 70
A few blocks away, one of the west side’s best-loved corridors for football and nightlife: salsa, food and the natural pre-game of any derby.
4. The Sunday ciclovía
On Sundays and holidays, roads around the complex close to cars and fill with bikes, skates and families. A city policy that portrays Medellín better than many museums.
5. A fact to drop in the stands
The pitch covers about 8,700 m² of Bermuda 419 grass. The groundskeepers have their own fan base too.
Our tours to this place
The Stadium and La 70 open our **Full Tour (7 hours)** by e-bike: from there we ride on to Laureles, Pueblito Paisa, Parques del Río, downtown and Comuna 13 — private, with a local guide. Short on time? Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll build your plan.
Practical info
- Getting there: metro line B to Estadio station; it’s a short walk from there. One of the best-connected spots in the city.
- Matches: schedules change every season — check Atlético Nacional, DIM or Dimayor official accounts before your trip, and buy tickets through official channels only.
- No match on? You can wander the complex’s open areas; indoor venues depend on INDER’s programming.
- On derby day arrive early, carry little, and agree on a meeting point before diving into the crowd.
- Pair it with La 70: arrive in the afternoon, see the complex, eat on La 70 and stay for the party — a full west-side plan.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Atanasio Girardot?
An Antioquian military hero of the wars of independence, not a footballer. He died in battle in 1813.
Can I enter the stadium when there’s no match?
The stadium itself only during events or scheduled activities, but the surrounding sports complex is free to access and always alive.
Is it safe to attend a match as a foreigner?
Yes, with big-stadium common sense: official ticket channels, few valuables, and for the derby, family or western stands.
Nacional or Medellín — which side to pick?
That question has ended decades-long friendships. As a visitor you hold the city’s only diplomatic pass: enjoy whoever plays while you’re here.
How close is La 70?
A few blocks on foot. Stadium and nightlife are one single plan.
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