River Plate Removes Part of Monumental Sign for Stadium Expansion

River Plate started removing part of its iconic Monumental stadium welcome sign on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, to clear the way for heavy machinery needed for ongoing stadium expansion work.

The club announced through an official statement that workers would cut away the “Club Atlético” portion of the sign located on Avenida Figueroa Alcorta, leaving only the “River Plate” text visible to members and fans.

“Se realizará el desmonte parcial del cartel de bienvenida ubicado sobre Av. Figueroa Alcorta, en el cual quedará visible la leyenda River Plate,” the club said in its official release, as reported by El Intransigente.

Demolition of Concrete Overhang and Gates Enables Crane Access

Alongside the partial removal of the sign, crews will demolish 11.5 linear meters of the concrete overhang supporting it and take down four gates.

“Además, se desmontarán cuatro portones y se demolerán 11,5 metros lineales del alero de hormigón que sostiene el cartel, procedimiento que permitirá el ingreso de la grúa a la calle interna para comenzar a montar la estructura provisoria de la cinta de iluminación en la tribuna San Martín,” River detailed in the club communication, according to Bolavip Argentina.

This access clearance allows a 300-ton crane to enter the internal street and begin installing a temporary lighting ribbon on the San Martín stand.

New Tier and Lighting Will Expand Stadium Capacity

The new tier will feature space for 16,000 fans, bringing the total capacity to 101,000 spectators and making the venue the largest stadium in all of America by mid-2029.

“Es importante destacar que esta cinta provisoria de iluminación será la que esté en funcionamiento desde el año que viene, en reemplazo de la actual, y forma parte del proceso de construcción de la quinta bandeja de tribunas que sostendrá el nuevo techo del estadio,” explained the club.

Because River plans to continue playing home matches at the Monumental during the multi-year renovation, temporary external lighting must replace the existing metal arms and lights on the San Martín, Belgrano, and side grandstands as those structures are dismantled for the new tier.

The project also incorporates a skywalk featuring the River crest, alongside bases and columns designed to support both the seating expansion and a roof covering all stands.

Grupo ENG S.a. Manages Modernization Project Costing USD 145,085,227

The broader modernization project aims to increase the venue’s capacity from 85,018 to 101,000 spectators by mid-2029 over a 36-month construction timeline.

The contract was awarded to Grupo ENG S.A., a local engineering firm with over 25 years of experience that previously worked on recent Monumental renovations, with a total cost reaching USD 145,085,227 plus value-added tax, according to figures released by the institution and covered by Soy del Millo. The selected bid presented a 28% difference compared to the second-best proposal and an 86% difference relative to the third.

Stefano Di Carlo explained the ambition of the project during an official presentation in January, noting that the expanded stadium will rank among the largest athletic venues globally alongside Barcelona’s Camp Nou and North Korea’s Rungrado First of May Stadium.

The Monumental already holds the record for receiving the largest crowds in South America, and the expansion will place it third worldwide behind Barcelona’s Camp Nou at 105,000 capacity and the Rungrado First of May Stadium at 114,000.

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