Stadiums Open to Visitors
From October 3, 2021, Medellin Stadiums will allow visitors and fans back in the stadiums.
The two main teams of Medellin are Medellin (Independiente Medellin) and Nacional (Atletico Nacional). They both play at Atanasio Girardot Stadium ( Cra. 74 #48010)- Entrances on north side at 70th and 73st and Colombia Ave). The Stadium is downtown, west side. Its easy to reach by cab but you can also get there by subway (Station Estadio or bus to 50th Street and Ave Colombia).
Tickets are from COP 20,000 (USD$5) to 50,000 (USD$13). You can get tickets at the stadium almost always unless it is a very special game in which case you can buy tickets beforehand here.
For a feel of what a Medellin Soccer match is really like, see below from my last visit to the stadium.
Rowdy Medellin Soccer Match
Soccer in South America is intense bordering on religion. The rivalries are personal. It didn’t help that the game I was going to see was between two cities which had the largest cocaine cartels in the world and went to war including bombing campaigns against each other; Medellin and Cali.
Preparation
I shoot over to the hostel where I booked the tour and jump in the van with about eight other travelers. We crisscross the city and stop about seven blocks away from Atanasio Girardot Stadium at a coffee shop. Empanadas, coffee, water and getting our war paint on (Medellin colors on our cheeks).
Thunderdome
As we walk the eight blocks to the stadium the buzz is palpable, exciting and little tense. With people rushing from all directions it feels like a concert atmosphere although as we come up to the stadium it feels more like Thunderdome. People pushing and shoving to get in, people hanging off the side of the stadium and music and shouting everywhere. In the crowd I see someone jumping around and causing a scene. A security guard walk ups and punches him straight in the face. The guy calms down, apologizes and the guard let him go it.
Game time
We filter into the stadium and find our seats. It’s a beautiful day and the stadium is packed to the rafters.
The game and the songs begin! I don’t know the songs so just bounce along.
The game goes back and forth and then suddenly a huge blanket comes down covering the crowd. After a few minutes it retracts and the crowd cheers.
The game is going back and forth. Cali gets a cornerkick but he can not take it because the crowd keeps throwing things at him. The loudspeaker comes on and says the game cannot continue until people stop throwing things at player. The crowd complies and the game continues.
One cool thing about this stadium is the front row area given for people with disabilities.
Exit
So as not to get caught in the stampede, we decide to leave about 3 minutes before the end of the game, so we say goodbye the people who around us and head out of the stadium back and down the street to the café for a little wind down and beers before the van picks us up. I would definitley advise going to a game while you are here but would suggest going with a group/tour as it can be intense.
Let us know what you think. Comments and questions welcome. Be safe and enjoy!
AWESOME!!!!