They call it "La Bombanera"...which means "the Chocolate Box". And it is one of the chapels of soccer in all of the world. The Alberto J. Armando stadium is the home of the famous Boca Juniors club team. Boca Juniors are currently the South American club champions and the team on which Juan Ramon Riquelme currently plays...It is the club on which legends such as Gabriel Batistuta and others made famous.
The stadium was built in 1940 in the La Boca section in the south side of town. It was expanded just a few years ago to hold about 57,000 and is named after a former club president during the 1970's. The stadium is decorated in yellow and has murals and paintings by Perez Celis which are very colorful and depict famous players and moments. We went to the stadium and checked out the flavor as well as the museum...even the youngest Ute, 1-year-old Rachel Roderick enjoyed it!
Of course the most famous player associated with Boca Juniors is Diego Armando Maradona. Maradona played for Boca early in his career, before going to Europe. And then he returned at the end of his career and helped them win another championship. Maradona is beloved all over Argentina for winning the World Cup in 1986. However, he is especially important at La Boca. Here Jen Christoffers points to his special box he uses when he attends Boca Juniors home matches. It is lined with gold seats. When he attends, the fans sing songs thanking him for not forgetting them...a Boca Juniors game is a special experience. Unfortunately, they don't have a home game until next Sunday, after we leave. However, some of the parents are staying a bit longer and will get to see a game in the chocolate box!
Here is Coach Manning and his friend, Sue Moynihan paying homage to the statue of Diego Maradona inside the museum at the stadium.
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