La Bombonera stadium, or Estadio Alberto J. Armando, is home to the world famous Boca Juniors football club and such players as Carlos Tevez, Martin Palermo, Juan Román Riquelme and some guy named Diego Maradona. 🙂
An almost mythical stadium, La Bombonera is renowned as one of the best in South America, possibly the world. It isn’t necessarily it’s unique build that draws so much attention, but rather the acoustics of the steeply built sections and consistent 85%+ attendance. Even for a “meh” Boca Juniors vs fill-in-the-blank-chump-team the ultras sections will fill to capacity and tickets will be squabbled over in the black market.
What’s the deal with Boca Juniors tickets?
As of 2012 Boca Juniors tickets are no longer sold to the public. They are only distributed to “socios” or card carrying members of Boca Juniors. You can reserve Boca Juniors tickets through us, but if you decide to go elsewhere please be aware that a “too good to be true deal” is likely a fake season ticket card. Falsified or cancelled season cards have become as common as has the demand to see a Boca game.
Boca Juniors stadium tips:
- This neighborhood has two tourist friendly areas. One is called “El Caminito” and the other is the area (closely) around the stadium. Outside of these areas the neighborhood should be considered unsafe for exploring and has a history of robberies happening to those tourists who were too bold.
- With a capacity just shy of 50,000 you’ll see standing sections, stairs and entryways packed for big games so arrive early. The stadium will literally shake in the upper decks when a goal is scored on days like a Superclasico (Boca/River).
- The atmosphere on game day is absolutely electric, but if you happen to come in off season or if Boca Juniors are not playing at home during your time here you can swing by and visit the grounds anyway. Stadium tours have grown in popularity as more and more “grounds-hoppers” make their way to South America. Do note that stadium tours are rarely available on Boca game days, national holidays and if the weather is particularly bad.
Here’s a little taste of what the stadium is like on a game day:
Fun Facts and What You Should Know
The stadium earned its nick name “La Bombonera” or “chocolate box” because it’s shape resembles just that- an old school sweets container. Plans to increase seating or create an entirely new Boca Juniors stadium have fallen victim to a cocktail of resistance. La Boca’s neighbors, business owners, season ticket holders and Argentina’s long term arch nemesis, inflation, cause the attempts to fall flat before breaking ground.
River Plate, Boca Juniors’ nemesis, actually shared the same neighborhood La Boca early in their history! River Plate eventually moved to Belgrano and founded the largest stadium in Argentina, El Monumental.
The area before the stadium was built housed a manure production facility. This unfortunate fact armed rival fans with their favorite nickname for Boca Juniors fans; “bostero” (bo-stair-oh) or someone that collects and works with horse excrement. The nickname is embraced though among fellow fans and you’ll hear Boca fans proudly answer “de que cuadro sos?” with “Soy Bostero por su puesto“.
Boca Juniors’ arch rival River Plate’s colors are red and white. When Coca Cola was trying to close a deal with La Bombonera to be the exclusive beverage of the stadium Boca forced them to change their logo! No red and white was allowed and to this day all Coke signs are either navy blue or black and white. To say the hatred runs deep between these teams is an understatement.
Address: Estadio Alberto J Armando (La Bombonera), Brandsen 805, La Boca neighborhood
Buses that pass nearby: 29, 64, 86, 152
Subway: The subte will leave you about 15 blocks from the stadium, but it is highly recommended to NOT walk in and out of La Boca.
Taxi: Definitely the easiest and safest way in and out of La Boca. Ask the driver to take you to “El Caminito en La Boca” and stroll over within the boundaries of the touristy area.
