Ninoy Aquino Stadium

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
The venue's interior
Former namesRizal Multi-Purpose Arena
LocationManila, Philippines
Public transit Vito Cruz
OwnerPhilippine Sports Commission
OperatorPhilippine Sports Commission
Capacity6,000
Construction
Renovated1989, 2013, 2019
Tenants
UAAP (1997–2000, 2006–2007)
NCAA (1999, 2006)
PBA (2010–2011)
Manila Metrostars (1998)
PBL (1990–1996)
Shakey's V-League
Manila Stars (2019–present)

History
The venue's interior prior to the 2019 renovation

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 the 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 the 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.[1][2][3] It also hosted the volleyball tournament of the 1991 Southeast Asian Games, the table tennis competitions of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship as the second venue of the tournament.

It has also hosted college basketball games of the UAAP, NCAA, NCRAA and the NAASCU. Currently, it is also known for hosting taekwondo tournaments, the two editions of the BSCP National Pool Championships and as one of the alternate venues of PBA games. It was also the home court of the Manila Metrostars in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.

The Ninoy Aquino Stadium was renovated for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games to host the taekwondo and weightlifting competitions.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

The facility was temporarily refurbished as a quarantine and isolation center in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8]

Notable events at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium

References
  1. "Mysterious no show by Youth cage". Manila Standard. 4 January 1989. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  2. "Sin to bless cage site". Manila Standard. 9 January 1989. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  3. "It could have cost much less". Manila Standard. 22 March 1989. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  4. Terrado, Reuben (22 October 2019). "PSC assures venues renovation will be finished in time for SEA Games". SPIN.ph. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  5. Giongco, Nick (10 October 2019). "Ninoy Aquino Stadium gets long-needed makeover". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  6. Tamayo, Tristan (13 November 2019). "GALLERY: Team Philippines send-off for 2019 SEA Games". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  7. Patinio, Ferdinand (April 29, 2020). "7 'mega community quarantine' facilities completed: DPWH". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  8. Sadongdong, Martin (May 11, 2020). "Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila records 21 as highest single-day recovery". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 16, 2020.


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