Independiente Medellín and Atlético Nacional cannot play their upcoming Liga BetPlay home matches at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot because the venue is occupied by the Electric Daisy Carnival. Inder director Eduardo Silva Meluk confirmed that municipal sports complexes are closed for the festival’s setup, forcing both clubs to relocate to the Estadio Metropolitano de Ditaires in Itagüí.
Electric Daisy Carnival Shutdown Closes Estadio Atanasio Girardot
The staging of the Electric Daisy Carnival in Medellín has forced a major schedule and venue overhaul for two of Colombia’s most prominent football clubs. According to municipal officials, the multi-day electronic music festival has claimed the Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot, shutting down its facilities for sports competitions well ahead of the weekend gates opening on Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Eduardo Silva Meluk, director of the Inder agency, confirmed that the preparatory footprint extends far beyond the main pitch. Organizers have taken over the Coliseo Iván de Bedout, the Diamante de Béisbol, the Estadio de Atletismo Alfonso Galvis, and the Cancha Marte 1 alongside the main football stadium. The entire sports complex remains locked down for event staging and subsequent teardown work scheduled through October 13, 2026.
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Liga BetPlay Fixtures Shift to Ditaires in Itagüí
Faced with the unavailability of their home turf, Independiente Medellín and Atlético Nacional scrambled to secure alternative venues for their domestic league commitments. Independiente Medellín, managed by Luis Amaranto Perea, moved its Round 13 fixture against Independiente Santa Fe to the Estadio Metropolitano de Ditaires in neighboring Itagüí. Win Sports reported that the match was pushed to Monday night at 7:00 p.m. local time following the venue conflict.
Atlético Nacional faced a similar logistical puzzle for its postponed Round 9 clash against Deportes Tolima. Lucas González’s squad initially planned to host the fixture on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, but the club confirmed a shift to Thursday, October 8, at 6:05 p.m. local time, also at the Ditaires venue in Itagüí. The fixture carries heavy standings implications as both sides battle for upper-table positioning.
Standings Pressure Mounts Amid Squad Inefficiencies
The forced relocation comes at a delicate competitive moment for both Antioquia clubs. Atlético Nacional enters the week sitting third in the Liga BetPlay table with 22 points from 10 matches, trailing league leaders América and Deportivo Cali by two points. Meanwhile, Independiente Medellín occupies the sixth position with 20 points from 11 outings, looking to shore up defensive frailties after conceding four goals across recent outings against Junior and Millonarios.
The Poderoso side continues to feel the absence of playmaker Juan Fernando Quintero, who remains sidelined in the club’s medical room with a left rectus femoris muscle injury. Substitute playmaker Agustín Martegani has attempted to fill the creative void, notching two assists in recent weeks while manager Perea searches for defensive stability.
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Schedule Disruption Echoes Across Colombian Football
The venue squeeze in Medellín mirrors similar disruptions in the capital. While Medellín clubs relocated south to Itagüí, other historic grounds faced identical blocks, including Estadio El Campín in Bogotá, which sat empty for football duty due to a high-profile international music concert by the Korean group BTS.
Electric Daisy Carnival Displaces Medellín Football Teams
Why are Independiente Medellín and Atlético Nacional unable to play at the Atanasio Girardot?
The stadium is entirely occupied by the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), marking the festival’s debut in Colombia. Municipal authorities closed the venue and surrounding sports complex for heavy staging and post-event teardown through October 13, 2026.
Where are the displaced teams playing their home matches this week?
Both Independiente Medellín and Atlético Nacional have relocated their respective home fixtures to the Estadio Metropolitano de Ditaires located in the municipality of Itagüí.
When are the rescheduled matches taking place?
Independiente Medellín hosts Independiente Santa Fe on Monday at 7:00 p.m. local time, while Atlético Nacional faces Deportes Tolima on Thursday at 6:05 p.m. local time at the Ditaires venue.
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