Davao City–UP Sports Complex

Sports complex in Davao City, Philippines

7°05′08″N 125°28′15″E / 7.08567°N 125.47078°E / 7.08567; 125.47078Main venueMain Stadium
Capacity: 30,000Other sports facilitiesMulti-Purpose Gymnasium, Aquatics CenterOperatorGovernment of Davao City
University of the Philippines MindanaoConstructionBroke ground2015OpenedJanuary 26, 2019Construction cost₱8 billion

The Davao City–University of the Philippines Sports Complex^[1] is a sports facility complex in Davao City, Philippines.

History

Isidro Ungab lobbied for the construction of the sports complex during his tenure as Congressman representing Davao City's third district.^[2] Then-Sports Development Division-City Mayors Office of Davao City William Ramirez also lobbied for the sports complex's construction.^[3] In August 2015, the Government of Davao City and the University of the Philippines Mindanao signed a memorandum of agreement where it was stated that the university will donate a 20 hectares (49 acres) property it owns to the city government for a sports complex.^[4]

The construction of the complex costing ₱8 billion is planned to be finished by 2018 in line with the city's bid to host the 2019 Palarong Pambansa.^[5] By January 2016, the construction of the facility is already in full swing.^[2]

By September 2016,^[5] the indoor multi-purpose gym or the UP Kinetics Building^[2] is 38 percent complete and the construction of phase 1 of and 2 of the stadium and athletic oval was ongoing.^[5] All facilities save for the swimming pool were already completed by December 2018 with only finishing touches including the installation of a rubber athletics track are to be made.^[6]

The Davao City Government and the University of the Philippines Mindanao signed another memorandum of understanding which formalizes their agreement to jointly operate and manage the sports complex.^[7] Part of the sports complex were used for the 2019 Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet^[8] although the sports complex is not yet complete as of November 2019.^[9]

The Davao City Sports Complex is the first public sports complex of the city since the conversion of the old PTA grounds in 2007 into a park.^[4]

Facilities

The main stadium of the Davao City–UP Sports Complex hosts a football field and an athletics oval. It was designed to have a seating capacity of 30,000 people^[3] The surface of the football field of the main stadium is made of artificial grass.^[10] The main stadium is designed to meet FIFA-standards so that the facility could be suitable to host at least an AFC Asian Cup match.^[8]

The sports complex also hosts the UP Kinetics Building, an indoor multi-purpose gymnasium.^[2]

References

^ Saberon-Abalayan, Marianne (17 May 2017). "Modern sports facility for city". Sun Star Davao. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Construction of Davao City sports complex in full swing". The Mindanao Daily Mirror. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
^ ^a ^b Saberon-Abalayan, Marianne (14 March 2018). "Finally a Modern Sports Complex". Sun.Star Davao. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Construction of Davao City sports complex phase 1 ongoing". Philippine Information Agency. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Saberon-Abalayan, Marianne (29 September 2016). "Davao City sports complex eyed to finish in 2018". Sun Star Davao.
^ Comilang, Randie (13 December 2018). "Sports complex pool not ready for Davraa Meet". Sun Star Davao. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
^ Saberon-Abalayan, Marianne (11 January 2019). "Davao City, UP ink MOA for operation of sports complex". Sun Star Davao. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b Llemit, Ralph Lawrence (12 April 2019). "Quality standards". Sun Star Davao. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
^ Estremera, Rene (26 November 2019). "Madayaw News Press Statement". University of the Philippines Mindanao. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
^ "World-class facilities readied for Palarong Pambansa 2019". Philippine Information Agency. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.