FOOTBALL TICKETS + TRANSFERS TO THE STADIUM: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

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2012 GAMES SCHEDULE AND PRICES

10/02/2012: Boca vs Olimpo
Field Side Seats – U$S 199
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10/02/2012: Boca vs Olimpo
Behind the Goal, Standing Up – U$S 155
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12/02/2012: Racing vs Tigre
Field Side Seats – U$S 139
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18/02/2012: River Plate vs Independiente Mendoza
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19/02/2012: San Lorenzo vs Estudiantes
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22/02/2012: Velez vs Chivas (México)
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26/02/2012: Boca vs Newell´s
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26/02/2012: Boca vs Newell´s
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03/03/2012: River Plate vs Quilmes
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04/03/2012: San Lorenzo vs Boca
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07/03/2012: Boca vs Fluminense (Copa Libertadores de América)
Field Side Seats – U$S 250
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07/03/2012: Boca vs Fluminense (Copa Libertadores de América)
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11/03/2012: Boca vs Independiente
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11/03/2012: Boca vs Independiente
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17/03/2012: River Plate vs Deportivo Merlo
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22/03/2012: Velez vs Dep.Quito, Ecuador (Copa Libertadores de América)
Field Side Seats – U$S 139
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25/03/2012: Boca vs Lanús
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25/03/2012: Boca vs Lanús
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07/03/2012: Boca vs Arsenal (Copa Libertadores de América)
Field Side Seats – U$S 250
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29/03/2012: Boca vs Arsenal (Copa Libertadores de América)
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31/03/2012: River Plate vs Ferro
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08/04/2012: Boca vs Argentinos Jrs.
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08/04/2012: Boca vs Argentinos Jrs.
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14/04/2012: River Plate vs Huracán
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17/04/2012: Velez vs Defensor, Uruguay (Copa Libertadores de América)
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18/04/2012: Boca vs Zamora (Copa Libertadores de América)
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18/04/2012: Boca vs Zamora (Copa Libertadores de América)
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21/04/2012: River Plate vs Instituto
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29/04/2012: Boca vs Colón
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29/04/2012: Boca vs Colón
Behind the Goal, Standing Up – U$S 155
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05/05/2012: River Plate vs Gimnasia
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13/05/2012: Boca vs Vélez
Field Side Seats – U$S 249
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13/05/2012: Boca vs Vélez
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19/05/2012: River Plate vs Guillermo Brown
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20/05/2012: Racing vs Boca
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27/05/2012: Boca vs Godoy Cruz
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27/05/2012: Boca vs Godoy Cruz
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03/06/2012: Argentina vs Ecuador (Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
Field Side Seats – U$S 179
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09/06/2012: River Plate vs Boca Unidos
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17/06/2012: Boca vs Arsenal
Field Side Seats – U$S 199
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17/06/2012: Boca vs Arsenal
Behind the Goal, Standing Up – U$S 155
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23/06/2012: River Plate vs Almirante Brown
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07/09/2012: Argentina vs Paraguay (Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
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12/10/2012: Argentina vs Uruguay (Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
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It’s laid-back and lively. It’s brash and it’s sophisticated. Buenos Aires covers the spectrum of all things great about city life, and is one of the most exciting destinations for travelers in South America.

CNNGo TV takes a tour of the Argentine capital with CNN Buenos Aires correspondent Brian Byrnes and some local characters to find out where to see and be seen for a taste of the BA lifestyle. See our air times below.

So pick up a little Spanish (you can do so at a Spanglish Exchange event in Buenos Aires, the United States and Europe — spanglishexchange.com) then head out for these top Buenos Aires highlights.

1. Wander a street market

Buenos Aires is known for its open-air markets and street fairs. But expect more than just trinkets and fruit.
San Telmo Antiques Fair — the name barely does it justice — comes alive as dancers on the street do the Argentine tango and singers croon.

Longtime expat, Chicago-native Maya May takes us on a street tour of the outdoor market along Calle Defensa in San Telmo, where you can buy clothing, leather, antiques, food and more.

Along the way, you can hear the funky sounds of modern tango played by El Afronte Orquesta Tipica.

Take a seat at the oldest bar in town, Bar Plaza Dorrego, which was established in 1881. You won’t be the only tourist in this joint, but it’s worth a visit since this San Telmo bar feels like living history.

The vintage watering hole retains that old-school vibe with the checkered floor, the slow tango music, etched graffiti, and relaxed atmosphere.

Visit the fair on Sundays from 10 a.m-5 p.m. Bar Plaza Dorrego, Defensa 1908, Avellaneda 1143, +54 11 4361 0141

2. Dine at a private kitchen

If someone prepares you home-cooked food in Buenos Aires it’s a sign of affection. But don’t worry if you don’t have a doting Argentine granny, the city has got some cozy private kitchens. The lines between dinner party and restaurant blur in the intimate setting of one table shared between chatting strangers.

Christina Sunae, a Korean American runs the “closed door” restaurant, Cocina Sunae, from her home. Here you can sample authentic Southeast Asian Cuisine like fragrant Penang curry and crispy khao soi.

3. Eat Fugazetta pizza

This pizza alone could be the highlight of your Buenos Aires trip. Fugazetta is a signature Argentine pizza caked in mozzarella cheese and onions.
It’s sometimes served with other ingredients lurking below like olives and ham, but you won’t notice them much as they will be buried under the rich globules of cheese.

This hearty pie will hit the spot whether you’re out to lunch or coming home from a nightclub at 5 a.m.

Another of our expat guides, British writer Daniel Tunnard, took us to the historic Banchero Pizza shop on Av. Corrientes, the “Broadway of Buenos Aires.”

Tunnard also took us to his favorite record shop, Bird, named after the old-school bebop jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker who went by the nickname “Yard Bird” or “Bird.”

Pizzeria Banchero, Av. Corrientes 1300, Buenos Aires; +54 11 4382 4669

Bird, Talcahuano 385, Buenos Aires

4. Stroll in Palermo neighborhood

In the hip, bohemian neighborhood of Palermo, you’ll walk into an outdoor museum of graffiti.The streets are populated with eclectic shops, restaurants and cafés.
Pehache is a funky boutique run by sisters Carolina and Mariana Medina. Or pay a visit to Fueguia, South America’s only “scent laboratory.”

Pehache, Palermo SoHo, Gurruchaga 1418; pehache.com

Fueguia, Cabello 3791, Ciudad de Buenos Aires; +54 11 4806 5619; fueguia.com

5. Attend a soccer match

There’s no excuse not to watch soccer in Argentina. Stand back and watch fans get at each other’s throats, or take part in the action and cheer for the wrong team.
We went to a soccer match at Club San Lorenzo de Almagro with Lucas Markowiecki, who runs Tangol, a Buenos Aires travel agency that specializes in taking foreigners to soccer matches.

Soccer season in Buenos Aires runs from February to November;. Buy football tickets in Buenos Aires online here

6. Dance to a live band

One of the best places to hear live music seven nights a week is La Catedral, a funky warehouse nightclub.
Some nights you’ll find Argentine musician Leonardo Martinelli, leader of the band Tremor, which mixes Andean folk with digital cumbia, performing live. Tremor tours around the world, and is a member of the Zizek Collective.

Sarmiento 4006, Buenos Aires; +54 155 325 1630; www.lacatedralclub.com
_______________________________
SOURCE:
“Best of Buenos Aires: Food, music, sport and more”
9 November, 2011
http://www.cnngo.com
http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/play/6-must-dos-leaving-buenos-aires-449605

The South American neighbors have been friendly and not-so-friendly rivals over the years, but both leaders say it’s time to work together for a shared future.

Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez and Uruguay’s Jose Mujica officially formed a bilateral commission to promote the World Cup bid, comprised of both countries’ presidents, cabinet members and football league leaders.

The bid is a long shot since it would come relatively soon after Brazil’s Cup in 2014. While Japan and South Korea’s joint World Cup in 2002 was seen as a success, world football leaders tend to favor single-country bids.

On the other hand, Argentine Football Association President Julio Grondona is close to FIFA President Sepp Blatter. And as FIFA’s senior vice president Grondona is thought to wield considerable influence.

A decision on who hosts the 2030 World Cup is some way off. FIFA, football’s world governing body, last year awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 edition to Qatar.

Uruguay and Argentina have hosted and won the World Cup in the past. Uruguay hosted and won the first World Cup in 1930 and Argentina won it at home in 1978.

Mujica said the time has come for both neighbors to set aside their rivalries, in sports as well as business, politics and many other aspects of life.

“For too many decades we have lived with our backs turned to each other in Latin America, always looking toward Europe, always admiring what’s far away,” Mujica said. “Now the time has come to take notice that our future will be determined with our neighbors, that we suffer from the same difficulties, and that we escape them together or not at all.”

The two presidents also signed accords implementing a shared natural gas project in Uruguay, a commission to foster shared business investments, the rehabilitation of railroad connections, the construction of a new international bridge across their shared Uruguay River, and a plan to pay for it all using their own currencies.

“One of the keys is not only dialogue and integration, but also association, because being a member helps all sides win,” Fernandez said
________________________________
SOURCE:
“Argentina, Uruguay in joint bid for 2030 World Cup”
AP Aug 3, 2011
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-03/top-stories/29846147_1_jose-mujica-world-cup-president-sepp-blatter

We start our tour at the meeting point at lunch time, and close to there we will see the church were Diego Maradona got married to his ex-wife in 1989.

We go to the southern neighborhoods and our first stop will be the mythical Boca Juniors stadium: La Bombonera. Only with a simple look at the surrounding area of the stadium we will realize that the passion for football is breathed on every street.
Inside Boca Juniors’ stadium we will visit the preferential seats, a section of the pitch, the “popular” terrace that holds the mythical “12” (the player number 12), local changing room (that dates from 1978!) and we will finish in a stand, from where we will see Diego Maradona’s Box.

After that we will visit the “Museo de la Pasión Boquense” (Boca’s Museum) and we are going to see all the players that ever played for the club, we will learn about the history and evolution of the jersey and we will go to the trophies room. We will also see a film that will make you feel in the flesh how it feels to be a Boca player when goes out to the pitch. Later we will know the story of the mentioned above “12” and we will see the jerseys of two of the most important football players in the world, who have played in that stadium.

When finished the visit to the museum, you will have some time at your own dispossal to visit the shop and lunch (not included).

The second part of the afternoon will continue on the north of the city, where we will visit the place where was placed the second River Plate stadium after leaving La Boca, the neighborhood where both of them were born.

Our second stop is at El Monumental in Belgrano district. There we will take a sightseeing walk around the stadium and we will see the “River Neighborhood”, the Federal Shooting Range, the access gates and Rivermanía, the official licensed products shop. Later, we will get into the Museo River Plate, where we will know about the history of the club, its stars and most important titles. The visit starts at the “Modulo de Traslación Temporal”, a kind of time machine that will take us to the year of the foundation of the club. Later we visit the stadium that gives the impression of being a social club instead a football one. The facilities we will see: the 10 tennis courts, training field, olympic swimming-pool and the hotel for the students and minor leagues. Inside the stadium, the coffee (the meeting point of the club), press conference room, trophys hall, presidential box, preferential seats, the volleyball and basketball micro-stadiums, educative institute and finally, the cherry of the pie: the pitch.
After 6 hours full of football, we go back to the meeting point.

Out for the Record

It may not have been the final that was widely anticipated, but it was natural that after knocking out hosts Argentina and Brazil respectively, Uruguay and Paraguay find themselves in the 2011 Copa America final, hosted in the famous El Monumental stadium, home to fallen giants River Plate. On level terms with Argentina with regard to Copa America honours, Uruguay now have the chance to lead alone.

Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Against Venezuela, Oscar Tabarez’s side dominated much of the proceedings, eventually toppling their adversaries by two goals signed by Luis Suarez, a player the coach greatly boasted in his post-match declaration: “He is an elite player in world football. We talked about having more presence up top. That is how we got the first goal. [Diego] Forlan and Suarez appeared. After that, Peru kept attacking, but we had it under control.”

Uruguay might be slight favourites, but a team that has knocked out Brazil certainly will not run and hide. Uruguay will have to be extra careful not to leave gaps at the back for the Paraguayan attack however, as Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Valdez could potentially shoot down the Uruguayans’ dreams.

Surviving Another Shoot-out

Emotions were high in the air at the Estadio Alvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, as a goalless draw after ninety minutes meant that Paraguay were on their way to their second consecutive penalty shoot-out. Luckily for La Albirroja, they managed to tackle Venezuela, booking their place in the final stage for the first time since 1979, back when they won their second and last Copa America accolade.

The Paraguayan team managed to hold its own against Venezuela, with goalkeeper Justo Villar proving to be the hero once again as he denied several Venezuelan attempts, notably a solid effort from Jose Salomon Rondon. The new Estudiantes goalkeeper was again the penalty-kick hero as he denied Franklin Lucena from the spot. Should he continue on the same path, then there is a good chance that the Player of the Tournament award is his.

Paraguay might have had their luck so far, but they will have to be at their best should they want to dispatch Uruguay, whose forward Luis Suarez cannot certainly be counted out. Diego Forlan will be dangerous too as he looks to kick-start his tournament following torrid times.

Recent form

Uruguay:
- Uruguay 1-0 Mexico (12/07; Copa America)
- Argentina 1-1 Uruguay; 5-4 pens to Uruguay (16/07; Copa America)
- Peru 0-2 Uruguay (19/07; Copa America)

Paraguay:
- Paraguay 3-3 Venezuela (13/07; Copa America)
- Brazil 0-0 Paraguay; 2-0 pens to Paraguay (17/07; Copa America)
- Paraguay 0-0 Venezuela; 5-3 pens to Paraguay (20/07; Copa America)

Players to watch

Uruguay – Luis Suarez: The hero on the night against Venezuela will go up against Paraguay’s keeper in a battle of two of the best players in the tournament so far. Their personal contest does not summarise the match, but it will certainly be expected.

Paraguay – Justo Villar: Paraguay’s man of the tournament will definitely have all eyes watching him as he prepares to guide La Albirroja to their first major trophy in 32 years. While questions have surfaced over his abilities at 34 years old, Villar has hit back at his detractors with fine displays.

Match Prediction

Uruguay are favourites going into this match, but at such a stage, anything can happen. Paraguay have shown that they can compete with any team so far, but could ultimately fall against Tabarez and his side. Expect Uruguay to lift the title at the end.

Don’t forget: If you fancy a bet on the Copa America final check out all current odds and available betting markets in one go on OLBG. Click on Uruguay v Paraguay to see the latest prices and to find out which bookmaker offers the best value for money.
___________________________
SOURCE:
“2011 Copa America Final: Uruguay v Paraguay Match Preview”
Hassan Chamas
Friday, 22nd Jul 2011
http://www.insidefutbol.com
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/07/22/2011-copa-america-final-uruguay-v-paraguay-match-preview/45729/

Forlan – Uruguay

Venezuelan Fans

Goal at Salta Stadium

Neymar – Brazil

Argentine Fans

Paraguayan Fan

_____________________________________________
SOURCE: http://blogs.lanacion.com.ar/en-foco/

“It’s going to be tight but we’ll get there,” tournament organising committee president Jose Luis Meiszner said after an inspection of the giant stadium by South American Football Confederation officials.

The final, the only match of the 12-nation tournament to be played in the capital, is scheduled for July 24 at the 62,000-capacity Monumental that doubles as the national stadium.

Workers are racing against the clock to repair the damage after River “barrabrava” hooligan fans rioted after the team’s 3-1 aggregate defeat 10 days ago in a playoff with Belgrano, who were promoted from the Nacional B division.

“We were worried about it (but) the mere possibility of having to think about a change (of venue) would have been pathetic,” Meiszner told reporters.

The damage includes 4,000 seats ripped out of their fixtures in the stands, many thrown onto the pitch, along with broken glass barriers and windows.
______________________________________
SOURCE:
“Copa America final gets Monumental ok after fan riot”
Thu Jul 7, 2011
Reporting by Rex Gowar; editing by Mark Meadows; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com
http://in.reuters.com
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/07/06/idINIndia-58119220110706

Much has changed in the 24 years since the tournament’s resurrection. The previous year Argentina had won the World Cup with a team in which more than half the starting line-up were based at home. Brazil took a squad in which the number of players with European clubs was limited to two veterans.

Since then, of course, the floodgates have opened. Club football in South America has become an export industry, with talent whisked across the Atlantic at an ever-earlier age.

Given this scenario, and bearing in mind the chasm which has opened up between club football in Europe and South America, the performances of Brazil and Argentina’s national teams have held up remarkably well. Last year’s World Cup offered powerful evidence of the continent’s strength in depth. All five of the South American teams were competitive and only Chile – who were eliminated by Brazil – failed to make the quarter-finals. Uruguay, who were South America’s fifth-best team in qualification, finished fourth in South Africa.

It would be inappropriate, however, to credit the rebirth of the Copa America for the strong showing of the continent’s national sides. Far more important in this regard has been the introduction of the marathon format of World Cup qualification, where all 10 teams play each other home and away in a giant league. With this system in place the South American national teams have, for the first time, enjoyed the type of calendar that the Europeans take for granted: regular competitive games with guaranteed income, allowing top-class coaches to be hired, giving the teams continuity and the chance to develop in terms of tactics and confidence.

This change has been directly behind the remarkable rise of Ecuador, who went from whipping boys to the world’s last 16 in under 20 years, and the equally extraordinary progress of Venezuela, who for the first time will go into the next set of World Cup qualifiers with a realistic chance of getting through.

The introduction of the marathon World Cup qualification format in 1996 inevitably had a detrimental effect on the Copa America. At the time, the tournament was being played every two years and found its relevance greatly reduced by the sheer weight of competitive fixtures. In 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2004 the Copa featured many understrength, experimental teams.

The role and timing of the tournament in the international calendar had to be re-thought and, starting with the last Copa in 2007, it would appear that the right answers have been found. Now staged every four years, the Copa America has been placed in a coherent and interesting slot.

International football turns in a four-year cycle. For South American teams the first year – the one following
a World Cup – is for appointing new coaches and making some money with lucrative friendlies. At the end of that year, the Copa America announces the return to competitive action. Coaches will then hope to emerge from the Copa with a battle-hardened team that is ready to face the gruelling challenges of the World Cup qualifiers which get under way soon afterwards.

Indeed, the coaches of nearly all the South American teams this year have been stressing that their priority is building for a place in 2014 and that the Copa is a test on the way, rather than an end in itself. Of course, once the action kicks off and the adrenalin kicks in, all involved will be dreaming of doing a lap of honour with the trophy on July 24.

But there is another point to the Copa America, beyond that of being a glorified World Cup warm-up. The Copa offers an excellent opportunity for investment in stadiums and sporting infrastructure. And, in South America, that frequently presents a chance to counteract a historic imbalance.

Investing in provinces

Many of the countries in the continent are extremely centralised – the legacy of a colonial economic past whereby raw materials were exported and manufactured products brought in. Typically, the port where this trade took place grew into a giant capital city, which lorded it over an underdeveloped hinterland.

As football is the game of the city, this domination is reflected in the way that the major teams tend to be clustered together in the capital. One of the prime aims of recent Copas has been to decentralise the football of the host country by investing in the provinces.

All of this applies strongly to Argentina, where the national title has rarely left greater Buenos Aires. Estudiantes of La Plata have established themselves as a major force, but La Plata is just an hour’s drive from the capital. Elsewhere, the pair of clubs from Rosario, Central and Newell’s Old Boys, each have a handful of titles, but that is it.

On the seven occasions that Argentina staged the Copa between 1916 and 1959, everything took place in greater Buenos Aires. The 1987 tournament was a little more ambitious – there was a group each for Rosario and Cordoba – but in 2011 the Copa America will be a genuinely national affair.

La Plata will stage more games than any other venue, a decision clearly inspired by the construction in 2003 of a new stadium which, with the recent addition of a roof, is one of the most impressive new grounds on the continent – although the condition of the pitch is a cause for concern.

Rosario misses out this time, with the city, presumably, having to be content with staging the Argentina-Brazil World Cup qualifier in 2009. Instead, nearby Santa Fe is being used, and the centre of the country is represented by Cordoba, where the stadium was built for the 1978 World Cup and now bears the name of the star of that tournament, Mario Kempes.

Another venue built for 1978 is in Mendoza, over in the wine growing region near the border with Chile. Nearby San Juan is another host city, with the only stadium constructed especially for the tournament.

And there are two venues up in the north, in the foothills of the Andes, near the frontier with Bolivia. One is Salta, whose compact stadium was built for the 2001 World Youth Cup, the other is Jujuy, a city with the nickname of “the little silver cup”.

A rather large silver trophy will be presented to the winning captain in River Plate’s Monumental stadium on July 24 in the only game taking place in Buenos Aires – and it is surely fitting that the showpiece occasion will be staged in the city where the first Copa America was contested 95 years ago.

____________________
SOURCE:
“Rebirth of the Copa: guide to Copa America 2011″
By Tim Vickery
http://www.worldsoccer.com
http://www.worldsoccer.com/featured/rebirth-of-the-copa-guide-to-copa-america-2011

The 43rd tournament runs until 24 July, with the highest placed team (other than Brazil, who qualify as hosts) earning the right to compete for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

With some of the world’s finest footballing talent on display, as well as the usual mix of South American flair, outrageous defending and theatrics, there are a number of viewing opportunities available for the casual and hardcore fans.

In the US, the tournament will once again be shown live exclusively on Spanish-language broadcaster Univision, with match highlights and live streaming also available on the company’s website.

In the UK, ESPN will show the tournament for the first time, a full list of live fixtures and highlights is available on the channel’s website.

In addition, Google YouTube will stream live matches to viewers in over 50 countries at youtube.com/copaamerica (not available in the UK). All matches will be screened live with English commentary including replays and highlights which will be available on demand.

So all you have to do is sit back and enjoy what should be a fascinating festival of football.
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SOURCE:
“Where to watch Copa America 2011 live”
By Gordon Macrae
July 5, 2011
http://uk.ibtimes.com
http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/174404/20110705/copa-america-2011-watch-highlights-schedule-fixtures-calendario-argentina.htm