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| The Rizal Memorial Stadium is set to become a 25,000-seater soon, and a meeting between the PSC and FIFA President Gianni Infantino could begin the process. PFL (file photo) |
MANILA—The Rizal Memorial Stadium is up for a major facelift as Philippine Sports Commission chairman Pato Gregorio revealed plans to renovate the nearly one-century-old track and football venue.
Speaking during a performance review forum called by the PSC on Thursday at the PSC House, Gregorio said an initial meeting is scheduled with FIFA president Gianni Infantino next week to discuss the specifics of the upgrade.
"In the next couple of weeks, fingers crossed, if President Gianni can land here, we will have a meeting to help to discuss the upgrading of the (Rizal Memorial) Football Stadium. (It's) long overdue, long forgotten, not world-class, not even for collegiate football," Gregorio said.
Currently accommodating nearly 13,000 fans at seating capacity, the PSC plans to double the athletic field's crowd size, and Gregorio said that the renovation will be at no cost to the national government.
"When will we finish? Hopefully March, April, or May of 2028," he revealed the timeline for the renovation.
Infantino is scheduled to be in the Philippines for the ASEAN Football Federation congress on Sunday and the ASEAN Summit later in the week.
Also up for a big-time renovation are the major indoor arenas of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Gregorio said that the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, originally meant to be a tennis court before becoming a major indoor sports venue, will be turned into an arena with retractable roofing to make it also fit for outdoor sports action.
The former PBA board chairman said that it is high time that the Rizal Memorial Coliseum should serve its original purpose and move on from being a longtime basketball court.
"It will no longer be a basketball court. My background is basketball, but I'm sorry, basketball. It's time to give opportunities and facilities to other sports. There are so many basketball courts in this country. We don't need more basketball courts," Gregorio further said.
He later said that he plans to make the Rizal Memorial Coliseum the main court for the new WTA 250 Philippine Women's Open next year.
"Marami pong options yan. Of course, tennis is one of them. Alam naman po natin na we will host WTA 250 in November 2027. We will try our best to develop it so that it's ready for the WTA 250," Gregorio continued.
He also said that the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which has become an alternate PBA arena for the past couple of years, is also up for a retouch.
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