Concerns Raised over Buenos Aires Super Rugby Venue

The Argentine Super Rugby franchise is to be based in Buenos Aires, or more specifically, the city’s Northern suburbs in and around San Isidro. The Parque Presidente Sermiento in Saavedra has been identified by the union as being appropriate for the needs of the team and union.

Saavedra’s neighbors, though, are not so welcoming. Far from warming to the idea a group gathered at the NGO Vecinos por la Ecología (Neighbors for Ecology) to oppose the construction of a rugby stadium at Parque Presidente Sermiento.

The proposed stadium is to have a capacity of 10,000 and will be build by using tubular structures, making it a temporary and removable but the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) is looking to install the venue there for the coming five years. Promoted by the UAR the initiative has the backing of local government with the Secretariat of Buenos Aires Sport and former Puma Francisco Irarrázabal providing support.

NGO member Hugo Campos expressed his opposition to the project: ”They are going to occupy a sector in which there is an athletics track and has the only adequate soccer field in the park. It is also an area widely used by elementary school students in the neighborhood. They have not taken into account the environmental impact that building a stadium represents in this location. We continue to lose greenery.”

Sources indicated that construction is set to begin in the coming weeks and that it will be completed in time for the start of the Super Rugby season in February 2016. Campos though continues with his campaign: ”there are few public spaces. Neighbors contend that only a third of the 69 hectares can be used freely; including the running track and soccer field. Neighbors point to the deterioration of a public property for the benefit of the private sector”.

The Parque Presidente Sermiento sits on water reservoirs which were installed by the local government to prevent flooding in Saavedra. Irarrázaba, nonetheless, contends that damage will be low to non-existent and measures are being taken the park will not be degraded and nor will the neighborhood.

The proposed location will be used for all Super Rugby home games and also be used as a practice facility by the UAR for Los Pumas and other representative teams. Irarrázaba defends the decision by pointing out that ”the athletics track is rarely used. The tubular structures are to support the track. The only concrete structure required will be a platform which already exists. We’re going to demolish and rebuild it with changing rooms and bathrooms in accordance with Super Rugby levels”.

The Argentine Super Rugby franchise is to be the country’s first fully professional rugby team. Details concerning the home venue, team name and related information will be made public in November. Until that time the UAR is keeping a close lid on plans to instead focus on Los Pumas and the World Cup.