Grand Stadium of Havana (Latinoamericano)
The song made famous in the stadiums of the United States is also played in the most famous of Cuban Stadiums, that of the 63 year old Estadio Latinoamericano. Formerly known as the Estadio del Cerro or the Grand Stadium of Havana, this stadium has continued to bring the best of Cuban baseball to fans.
The location of the stadium could not be better. The stadium is located near the center of the city at the corner of Tejas and the avenue of the University of Havana en el Vedado.
The stadium was the home of professional baseball championships between 1946 until 1961 and with the exception of the Olympic baseball competitions has been the home of all major international competitions of the IBAF (International Baseball Federation): including the Baseball World Cup, Pan-American games as well as the international college championships in 1999. In 1949, 1952, and 1957 it has hosted the Caribbean Baseball championships.
During its history it has been the center for numerous events including the rodeo, figure skating, bull fights and boxing exhibitions of which the most memorable was the heavyweight champion Joe Louis versus the Cuban Omelio Agramonte. Famous concerts included that of the grand composer Ernesto Lecuona as will as the Italian pianist Liberace.
Today, the stadium can hold 55,000 spectators and is the home of Industriales, one of Havana’s most successful teams. While they are sometimes known as the bad boys of Cuban baseball, they are the only one to have won 4 championships in a row.
If you visit Havana and are interested in baseball, the new season has just begun and this is a visit to the heart of Cuban sports that cannot be missed.
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