New football field rises at McKinley Hill

ADDRESSING the need for more world-class football facilities in the country, real estate giant Megaworld finally opens the multimillion Emperador Stadium at McKinley Hill today in the hope that it will not only play host to the United Football League, but international matches in the future.

The stadium uses an artificial turf that was installed by Fifa-approved Limonta Sport from Italy and with a 2,000-seating capacity, it is considered the biggest of its kind in the country.

“We’ve seen how the Philippines has made football as one of the most anticipated sporting events in recent years,” said Jericho Go, Megaworld’s first vice president for business development and leasing group, at the launch of the stadium Thursday night.

“We saw the need to build this kind of sporting venue that will answer the needs, in terms of amenities and facilities.”

UFL chair Santi Araneta, whose group has priority in the usage of the pitch for the next four years, expressed delight at the opening of the stadium, which will now serve as the UFL’s home.

Go said the supplier of the pitch is the same firm that installed the turf at the training facilities of world-famous clubs like AC Milan and Valencia.

Go revealed plans to expand the seating capacity to 5,000. “We take pride on being the first company to build a world-class football field in the country,” he said.