Alejandro Villanueva Stadium

Matute, The boiler
Former names	Alianza Lima Stadium (1974–2000)
Location	Lima, Peru
Coordinates	12°4′6.75″S 77°1′22.39″W / 12.0685417°S 77.0228861°W / -12.0685417; -77.0228861
Owner	Alianza Lima
Capacity	33,938
Field size	105 x 70 m
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	May 30, 1969
Built	1969 - 1974
Opened	December 27, 1974
Architect	Walter Lavalleja
Project manager	Walter Lavalleja & Alfonso de Souza Ferreyra
Tenants
Club Alianza Lima (1974–present)

The Alejandro Villanueva Stadium, popularly known as Matute, is a football stadium located in the Matute neighborhood of the La Victoria district in Lima, Peru. The venue is owned by Club Alianza Lima, and it is here that the club plays at home in the Peruvian Liga 1, and in international tournaments such as the Conmebol Libertadores or the Conmebol Sudamericana.

The stadium was registered as an alternate venue of the Peruvian National Team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and was also considered as a possible venue for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

Currently, the Blue and Whites Fund, a group of investors managed by the club, is considering development of an ambitious project for the expansion and total modernization of the stadium. This would include the 4 tribunes, playing field, underlying buildings, alternate court, Villa Intima and surroundings of the enclosure. The expansion is expected to provide Alejandro Villanueva with a capacity of 55,000 spectators.^[1]

History

On April 11, 1965, it was announced at a press conference by Walter Lavalleja that a stadium was to be built in Lima for the club Alianza Lima. This was made possible by the president at that time, Manuel Odria, who donated a piece of land for the construction of the stadium. On May 30, 1969, the first phase of the project began.

The stadium was inaugurated with the "Señor de Los Milagros" tournament featuring Alianza Lima, city rivals Universitario de Deportes, Nacional of Uruguay, and Independiente of Argentina. The stadium opened on December 27, 1974, to 36,966 spectators with Alianza Lima drawing 2–2 with Nacional.

The stadium has carried the club name since its opening. However, in 2000, with Alianza Lima's centennial anniversary approaching, the club rechristened the stadium name to Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in honor one of one their most important players.^[2]