(foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
Boca Juniors president Juan Román Riquelme announced plans to expand La Bombonera to 80,000 seats, bringing fans closer to a long-awaited dream.
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Boca Juniors president Juan Román Riquelme has presented an ambitious project to renovate and expand the club’s iconic La Bombonera, increasing capacity to around 80,000 spectators.
The announcement, confirmed on Friday, marks what many supporters hope will be the realisation of a long-standing dream to modernise one of football’s most famous stadiums without relocating it.
“This is the first time I feel we are on the verge of fulfilling every Boca fan’s dream — expanding our stadium,” Riquelme said via the club’s official channels.
No relocation, only expansion
According to the plan, the historic venue — built in 1940 and last renovated in 1996 — will remain at its current location in the La Boca neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. Its present capacity stands at 57,200.
Riquelme firmly rejected suggestions that a new stadium should be built elsewhere.
“We will not move even a centimetre. La Bombonera cannot be relocated — let’s not lie to the fans,” he said.
The project gained momentum after the club secured initial approval from railway company Ferrosur, whose tracks run close to the stadium and are key to any construction work in the area.
Major structural upgrades planned
The redevelopment includes adding a fourth upper tier, building two new seating sections to replace the current VIP boxes, and installing a partial roof over the stands.
Plans also feature four towers equipped with elevators to transport supporters to the new upper levels — a major upgrade aimed at improving accessibility and matchday logistics.
Additional approvals will be required from transport regulators due to the proximity of active freight rail lines.
Previous expansion obstacles
Before becoming president in late 2023, Riquelme explored purchasing nearby homes behind the VIP section to build a new stand. That proposal was abandoned because several properties were designated cultural heritage sites by the city of Buenos Aires.
Despite those setbacks, the club now believes the current design is viable without altering the surrounding neighbourhood.
Rivalry with River Plate intensifies off the pitch
The announcement also comes shortly after arch-rivals River Plate revealed plans to expand the Estadio Monumental from 85,000 to 101,000 seats, with completion targeted for 2029.
If both projects proceed as planned, Buenos Aires could soon host two of the largest football stadiums in the world — intensifying one of football’s fiercest rivalries beyond the pitch.