Las Mestas Sports Complex () is a multipurpose sports complex in

Gijón Gijón () or () is a city and municipality in north-western Spain. It is the largest city and Municipalities of Spain, municipality by population in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Asturias. It is located on the coa ...

Asturias Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain. It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...

(

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

), used mainly as an equestrian facility for

show jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows ar ...

. It is also used as a

velodrome A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights. The straights transition to the circular turn through a moderate easement ...

, with its 428 m long track, and as a

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby union: 15 players per side *** American flag rugby *** Beach rugby *** Mini rugby *** Rugby sevens, 7 players per side *** Rugby tens, 10 players per side *** Snow rugby *** Tou ...

and

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

stadium. It was inaugurated in 1942 and renovated in 2005. Las Mestas has a capacity of 10,000 people, 3,000 of them seated.

History

Inaugurated in 1942, the original use for Las Mestas was exclusively for

equestrian The word equestrian is a reference to equestrianism, or horseback riding, derived from Latin ' and ', "horse". Horseback riding (or riding in British English) Examples of this are: *Equestrian sports *Equestrian order, one of the upper classes in ...

competitions. On 27 August 1964, a stand collapsed, ironically injuring 27 people. The stadium has been renovated several times, the last time being in 2005 with the addition of a new covered section with 2,200 seats.

Uses

* CSI Gijón, Spain's Official

Show Jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows ar ...

Horse Show, part of the

FEI Nations Cup The FEI Nations Cup, called Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup since 2013 because of sponsorship reasons, is the most prestigious Show Jumping series for national teams in the world. It is organized by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). Hist ...

Promotional League. *Home field of the Gijon Mariners (

). *

Velodrome A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights. The straights transition to the circular turn through a moderate easement ...

. *

Concert A concert, often known informally as a gig or show, is a live performance of music in front of an audience. The performance may be carried by a single musician, in which case it is sometimes called a recital, or by a musical ensemble such as an ...

Sporting events

*1993

European Show Jumping Championships The FEI European Show Jumping Championships is the European Championship for the equestrian discipline of show jumping. First held in 1957 in Rotterdam, and on an annual basis, it is held every two years, in the years between Olympic Games and Wo ...

. *1999 Samsung Nations Cup World Final. *2006 LNFA Bowl *2007

Copa del Rey de Rugby The Copa del Rey de Rugby (previously known as Campeonato de España de Rugby) is the national rugby cup of Spain. The competition was founded in 1926 and, currently is the second most important competition after the División de Honor de Rugby. A ...

final. *2008

Inline speed skating Roller speed skating is the roller sport of racing on inline skates. The sport may also be called ''inline racing'' or ''speed skating'' by participants. Although it primarily evolved from racing on traditional roller skates, the sport is simila ...

World Cup. * 2011 ITU Duathlon World Championships * 2018 LNFA Bowl

International rugby union games held

Concerts

*16 June 2006 —

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

n singer

Shakira Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977) is a Colombian singer-songwriter. Referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Latin Music", she has had a Cultural impact of Shakira, significant impact on the ...

performed at the venue during her '' Fijación Oral'' Tour.

References

External links

Profile at Gijón City Hall website

The velodromo at Gijón City Hall website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mestas Gijón Rugby union stadiums in Spain Sports venues in Asturias Show jumping venues Velodromes in Spain Horse racing venues in Spain American football venues in Spain 1942 establishments in Spain Sports venues completed in 1942