The Ninoy Aquino Stadium is an indoor sporting arena located in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines. Originally built in the 1950s, it was renovated and renamed for Philippine senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr. in 1989.
 Ninoy Aquino Stadium in 2021 | |
 | |
| Former names | Rizal Multi-Purpose Arena (until 1989) |
|---|---|
| Location | Manila, Philippines |
| Coordinates | 14°33′52″N 120°59′28″E / 14.56445°N 120.99114°E |
| Public transit |   Vito Cruz |
| Owner | Philippine Sports Commission |
| Operator | Philippine Sports Commission |
| Capacity | 6,000[1] |
| Construction | |
| Renovated | 1989, 2013, 2019 |
| Tenants | |
| UAAP (1997–2000, 2006–2007) NCAA (1999, 2006) PBA (2010–2011, 2024–present) Manila Metrostars (1998) PBL (1990–1996) Shakey's V-League Manila Stars (2019–2023) | |
History
edit
Ninoy Aquino Stadium was originally built in the 1950s as an open-air stadium, in time for the 1954 Asian Games. By the 1980s, it had been converted into an indoor arena named Rizal Multi-Purpose Arena, in time for the 1989 ABC Under-18 Championships, which opened on January 24, 1989. At the opening of the tournament, it was renamed Ninoy Aquino Stadium and a marker dedicating the arena was unveiled. The renovation included new chairs and a new scoring system from South Korea installed by Korean technicians.[2][3][4] It also hosted the volleyball tournament of the 1991 Southeast Asian Games, the table tennis competitions of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games[citation needed] and the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship as the second venue of the tournament.[5]
It has also hosted college basketball games (UAAP, NCAA, NCRAA and the NAASCU), taekwondo tournaments, the two editions of the BSCP National Pool Championships and was an alternate venue of PBA games. It was also the home court of the Manila Metrostars in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.[citation needed]
The Ninoy Aquino Stadium was renovated for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games to host the taekwondo and weightlifting competitions.[6] New seats and a new air-conditioning system were installed in the arena with the plans for the facility to become "high-tech" or up to par with modern standards. Both the NCAA and the UAAP expressed interest to hold their games in the arena again.[7] The renovation of the facility was completed on November 13, 2019, with the send-off ceremony for the Philippine team in preparation for the games held at the arena.[8]
The facility was temporarily used as an refurbished as a quarantine and isolation center in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][10]
The wooden flooring used at the Araneta Coliseum for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup was donated to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium after the event.[11]
Notable events
edit- Asian Games (1954)
- 1989 ABC Under-18 Championship
- Southeast Asian Games (1991, 2005, 2019)
- Hillsong United Live In Manila (2008)
- Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up The Big Night
- 2009 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship
- 2010 MVP Invitational Champions' Cup
- 2013 FIBA Asia Championship
- 2023 Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
References
edit- ^ De La Cruz, Gabrielle (April 6, 2020). "Ninoy Aquino Stadium to operate as a COVID-19 quarantine facility". BluPrint. One Mega Group Inc.
The design of the COVID-19 quarantine facility primarily focuses on the stadium's arena, with the 6,000 seats surrounding it left untouched.
- ^ "Mysterious no show by Youth cage". Manila Standard. January 4, 1989. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ^ "Sin to bless cage site". Manila Standard. January 9, 1989. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ^ "It could have cost much less". Manila Standard. March 22, 1989. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ^ Villar, Joey; Beltran, Nelson (January 29, 2013). "Asian exec on host's FIBA Asia bid: '5th-ranked Phl needs its best'". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (October 22, 2019). "PSC assures venues renovation will be finished in time for SEA Games". SPIN.ph. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ Giongco, Nick (October 10, 2019). "Ninoy Aquino Stadium gets long-needed makeover". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ Tamayo, Tristan (November 13, 2019). "GALLERY: Team Philippines send-off for 2019 SEA Games". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ Patinio, Ferdinand (April 29, 2020). "7 'mega community quarantine' facilities completed: DPWH". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Sadongdong, Martin (May 11, 2020). "Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila records 21 as highest single-day recovery". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- ^ Suing, Ivan (December 22, 2023). "SBP Donates WC Hardwood To PSC". Retrieved January 7, 2024.