ILOILO City – The city government is planning to construct a 7,000-seater stadium to hold big sports events.
The stadium, if realized, will help boost Iloilo City’s vision of being a sports tourism destination, said Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
He bared the plan during the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star game at the University of San Agustin gymnasium here on May 27.
“The facility should be able to accommodate 7,000 people so there will be more PBA games and other sporting events in the city,” Espinosa said.
The mayor said an area has already been identified where the coliseum could be erected.
“Sports development is one major aspect of our governance,” said Espinosa.
It can help make the city a drug-free community, he explained.
“If we can have sports programs for our people, especially the young, this will complement our anti-drug campaign. Be in sports, not on drugs,” he said.
The city already has the Iloilo City Sports Complex in Barangay Magsaysay, La Paz district but is owned and operated by the provincial government of Iloilo.
The Iloilo Sports Complex is a multi-use sports complex. It has an Olympic-size swimming pool, an oval running track, a football field, two volleyball courts, two basketball courts, two tennis courts and four badminton courts.
An indoor gymnasium is located 200 meters away from the main site.
A venue of athletic events in Iloilo province and Western Visayas and occasionally hosts large gatherings such as concerts, the Iloilo Sports Complex’s main stadium has a seating capacity of 7,000. (Iloilo City PIO/PN)
