Atanasio Girardot stadium rebuild: cost, funding and dates

Medellín is rebuilding Estadio Atanasio Girardot to hold about 60,000 people under a full roof, and the latest cost figures run from the COP 926,000 million the Concejo approved in August 2026 ^[9] to the COP 1.1 trillion El Colombiano reported in September 2026 ^[12]. Matches continue through 2026, the Alcaldía plans to close the stadium in the second half of 2027 ^[5], and press reports put delivery in the first half of 2028 ^[8][12].

What is being built

The plan adds a third tier of stands, taking capacity from 45,200 to about 60,000 ^[1][5]. One May 2026 Alcaldía release gives the starting figure as 44,000 instead ^[3]. The roof grows from 2,319 m² to more than 31,000 m² ^[1], enough to cover the whole stadium ^[3].

The scope also includes new seating, a new pitch, a 360-degree screen, better access and a new facade ^[3].

Works on the public space around the stadium are part of the project, but the area keeps changing: 40,000 m² in November 2025 ^[1], 32,969 m² in February 2026 ^[2], and 53,056 m² from July 2026 ^[5][10].

The Inder and the Empresa de Desarrollo Urbano (EDU) are in charge ^[1], and the Concejo gave EDU a part in every stage, from structuring and design to construction, operation and maintenance ^[7]. El Tiempo reported in late September 2026 that Spain's LaLiga is advising on the technology package ^[13].

What it costs

The price has gone up in steps. In November 2025 the Alcaldía announced more than COP 750,000 million, of which COP 643,000 million was for the stadium itself and the rest for the wider sports complex, technology, mobility and urban works ^[1]. The Alcaldía gave more than COP 752,000 million in February 2026 ^[2] and COP 752,000 million in July 2026 ^[5].

In August 2026 the Concejo approved COP 926,000 million in vigencias futuras, which are budget commitments spread over several years, for the stadium's modernisation and operation ^[9]. That is about USD 280 million at the 1 October 2026 TRM of COP 3,312.84 per dollar ^[14]. The same month, Valora Analitik reported that the EDU's manager put the cost at about COP 950,000 million ^[8]. In September 2026, El Colombiano reported a total of COP 1.1 trillion ^[12].

We found no primary source that states a final total. The main construction contract had not even gone out to tender as of 7 September 2026 ^[10], so there is no contract price to check against.

Who pays for it

The funding model has changed. The Alcaldía first said the work would be paid for entirely with public money ^[1][2]. In July 2026 the Concejo instead authorised a concession covering design, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and commercial use of the stadium, funded 55% by bank debt and 45% by public money ^[7]. The stadium stays public property and returns to the District when the concession ends ^[7]. The Concejo's release names no private operator and gives no concession term ^[7].

Valora Analitik reported in August 2026 that, according to the EDU's manager, the bank debt is to be repaid from commercial use of the stadium, its naming rights and advertising ^[8]. The Concejo's August approval splits its COP 926,000 million into COP 126,000 million from a higher sports tax and COP 800,000 million from the use of the modernised facilities ^[9].

That tax, the Tasa Pro Deporte y Recreación, rises from 1.3% to 2.5% on District contracts signed from 1 January 2027, with 90% of the extra revenue going to the stadium (Infobae, July 2026) ^[6]. El Colombiano reported in September 2026 that the District's own contribution is COP 444,000 million, with the rest coming from bank credit and vigencias futuras ^[12].

When it closes and when it reopens

The schedule has slipped twice. In November 2025 the Alcaldía planned works from May or June 2026 and completion in the second half of 2027 ^[1]. By February 2026 the plan was works from late July ^[2], and preliminary tender documents went up on SECOP II in May ^[3].

What has happened on site so far is preparatory. The Curaduría Urbana issued the construction licence, and removal of the old west-stand roof began in July 2026, planned to take about 75 calendar days ^[5]. Valora Analitik reported on 7 September 2026 that about 45% of that roof had been removed ^[11]. El Colombiano reported the same day that the main construction contract had still not gone out to tender ^[10].

The Alcaldía said in July 2026 that the stadium stays open with its normal calendar for the rest of 2026 and will have to close in the second half of 2027 ^[5]. The reopening date comes from the press. Valora Analitik reported in August 2026 that the official project sheet puts delivery in the first quarter of 2028 ^[8]. El Colombiano reported in September 2026 tender documents around 15 October, an award in mid-November, and completion in the first half of 2028 ^[12]. We found no Alcaldía release that states the 2028 date itself.

Living nearby during and after the works

Until the end of 2026, match days should look as they do now, because the Alcaldía says the calendar runs normally for the rest of the year ^[5]. The work reported on site so far is the west-stand roof removal ^[5][11].

From the closure in the second half of 2027 until delivery, there are no matches at the stadium ^[5]. El Colombiano reported that some fixtures may move to Estadio Cincuentenario ^[12]. The project includes public-space works around the stadium, with part of the original budget set aside for mobility and urban works ^[1]. The sources we checked do not publish a schedule for the street works or a plan for neighbours during construction. Before you sign, ask the building administration what it has been told, and check EDU and Alcaldía announcements for the blocks you are considering.

After reopening, a full stadium would hold about 60,000 people against 45,200 today ^[5], so a sold-out event brings roughly 15,000 more people into the area than a sold-out event does now. The number of turnstiles more than doubles, from 49 to 108 ^[1].

What you may hear

• "COP 750,000 million." That is the November 2025 announcement ^[1]. The Concejo approved COP 926,000 million in August 2026 ^[9], and press reports since then put the cost at COP 950,000 million ^[8] to COP 1.1 trillion ^[12].
• "COP 415,000 million." Valora Analitik reported a preliminary budget of COP 415,764 million in May 2026 ^[4]. That is the construction works alone, not the total.
• "Finished in late 2027." The second half of 2027 was the original official target ^[1]. It is now when the Alcaldía plans to close the stadium ^[5], and the press reports delivery in the first half of 2028 ^[8][12].
• "100% public money." That was the original plan ^[1][2]. Since July 2026 the model is 55% bank debt and 45% public money, with only the ownership staying fully public ^[7].
• "70,000 seats." Every Alcaldía release we checked says about 60,000 ^[1][3][5].